Qatar's 3-1 victory over Bahrain in the round of 16 helped Japan reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the ninth consecutive time.
The 69-rank difference in FIFA rankings between the two teams was evident on the pitch, with Japan dominating possession, creating scoring opportunities, and scoring goals. Bahrain failed to create any notable chances, except for an own goal by striker Ayase Ueda. Japan, meanwhile, squandered numerous opportunities in the final minutes to secure a more emphatic victory.
Japanese players celebrate Ritsu Doan's opening goal against Bahrain at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, during the Round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup on January 31, 2024. Photo: AP
Bahrain's only real standout feature in this match was the crowd, with thousands of fans cheering on their team despite the game taking place on Wednesday afternoon, Doha time. Both Bahrain and Qatar are Persian Gulf countries, separated by only a few hours' drive. However, the home crowd's energy did not give Bahrain any more breathing room on the pitch.
Japan struggled at the start, before opening the scoring in the 31st minute with a moment of brilliance from right-back Seiya Maikuma. From about 25 meters, Maikuma unleashed a powerful shot towards the far corner, hitting the post and bouncing back. Midfielder Ritsu Doan was there at the right moment, slotting the rebound low into the middle of the goal. This was Doan's first goal of the tournament, while he scored two goals at the 2019 Asian Cup.
Ritsu Doan's tap-in goal opened the scoring. Photo: AP
Hajime Moriyasu's team continued to play with high intensity and scored their second goal right after halftime. A player, caught off guard, cleared the ball forward to Takefusa Kubo. The La Liga midfielder turned and fired a low shot into the far corner to make it 2-0 for Japan. The linesman initially called offside, but after VAR intervention, Kuwaiti referee Ahmad Al-Ali quickly awarded the goal.
The Japanese players made things difficult for themselves in the following minutes, leading to an avoidable goal. From a corner kick by Komail Al Aswad on the left, center-back Sayed Baqer headed the ball powerfully over goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. The goalkeeper failed to make a good save, sending the ball back into the net. Striker Ayase Ueda attempted to clear the ball off the goal line, but it deflected off Suzuki, resulting in an own goal. This wasn't the first time Suzuki had made a mistake leading to a goal, as he had made a similar error in the opening match against Vietnam, which Japan won 4-2.
Key events of the match.
However, just eight minutes later, Ueda redeemed himself. Receiving the ball outside the penalty area on the right, Ueda turned and dribbled past two Bahrain players before firing a powerful shot through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net. This was his fourth goal of the tournament, behind only Aymen Hussein, but the Iraqi striker no longer had the opportunity to improve his record.
Japan reached the quarter-finals for the ninth consecutive time, but this time their opponent is likely to be Iran – who will play their final round of 16 match against Syria. A boost for Moriyasu's team comes from the return of midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, who played the final 30 minutes of the match against Bahrain.
Quang Dung - Hoang An
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