Japan kickstarted their 2026 World Cup qualifying third-round marketing campaign with an emphatic 7-0 victory over China PR at Saitama Stadium.
Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma acquired themselves on the scoresheet handy the hosts a cushty two-goal benefit at half-time.
However Hajime Moriyasu’s facet turned on the type after the break, with a brace from Takumi Minamino adopted up with targets from Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo.
The hosts took the lead within the twelfth minute as Endo headed dwelling Kubo’s inviting corner-kick, with Mitoma including Japan’s second two minutes into time added on.
Minamino struck twice in six minutes shortly after the break, with Ito then netting his second aim in three appearances in opposition to China within the World Cup qualifiers.
The Reims attacker would flip supplier for Japan’s remaining two finishes, first teeing up Maeda earlier than choosing out Kubo, who rifled the ball past Wang Dalei.
1 – 日本代表はワールドカップ予選での中国戦では2試合連続被シュート1本（被枠内シュート0本）。5日の中国の敵陣ペナルティエリア内タッチ数は1回。圧倒。#SAMURAIBLUE #jfa #daihyo #サッカー日本代表 pic.twitter.com/wdEGGCINlw
— OptaJiro (@OptaJiro) September 5, 2024
Knowledge Debrief: Samurai Blue present China the sword
Japan have now restricted their opponents to only one shot (none on track) in two consecutive matches within the World Cup qualifiers, with China registering an anticipated targets (xG) determine of simply 0.03.
Moriyasu’s facet dominated the competition from begin to end, accumulating 102 final-third entries to China’s 33, additionally recording 33 touches within the opposition’s field in comparison with their opponents’ one.
Kubo and Minamino have been the decide of the bunch for Japan, recording the joint-most photographs (4) and photographs on track (two).
