January 31, (THEWILL) – The Japanese national football team continued their strong 2024 Asian Cup campaign on Wednesday, defeating Bahrain 3-1 to progress to the tournament quarter-finals. At Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, goals from Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda sealed a comfortable victory for the four-time Asian champions.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu would have been delighted with his side’s clinical performance. Japan took the lead on 31 minutes through FC Freiburg midfielder Doan, who pounced on a rebound to slot home after Seiya Maikuma’s fierce strike cannoned off the upright. Young Real Sociedad forward Kubo then doubled Japan’s advantage shortly after halftime, seeing his close-range effort awarded after a VAR review.
Bahrain briefly threatened a comeback when defender Ueda inadvertently turned the ball into his own net from a corner. Yet, Ueda redeemed himself just minutes later, expertly beating three defenders before firing in at a tight angle to make it 3-1. The result means Japan progressed to meet either Iran or Syria in the last eight.
Bahrain manager Juan Pizzi will rue missed opportunities to heal old wounds. Pizzi’s Saudi Arabia side previously lost at the same stage to Japan in 2019. Yet, the 2024 encounter proved a step too far for the spirited underdogs. Japan simply had too much-attacking quality across the pitch.
Few would now bet against the Blue Samurai going deep into the knockout stages. If they can maintain this form, a fifth Asian Cup triumph appears firmly within their grasp.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
