Junya Ito (3rd from R) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring Japan's second goal with a header during the second half of a Group B football match against China on Jan. 27, 2022, at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, near Tokyo, in the final group-phase round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (Photo by=Kyodo) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] SAITAMA: Japan took a small step toward qualifying for this year's World Cup as Junya Ito scored for the third straight game in Samurai Blue's 2-0 win over China in an Asian Group B final-round qualifier on Thursday, Kyodo Sports reported.
The win at Saitama Stadium kept manager Hajime Moriyasu's side second in the group on 15 points from seven games. Group leaders Saudi Arabia, with 16 points from six games, play Japan here on Tuesday. The group's top two teams earn spots at the finals in Qatar that start in November. Japan applied pressure early and was awarded a penalty kick when a sliding China defender could not get his arm out of the way of an Ito cross inside the penalty area. Yuya Osako, who had one of Japan's two early misses along with Ito, scored from the spot in the 13th minute.
The score remained 1-0 until substitute Yuta Nakayama, who plays for Dutch side Zwolle, delivered a 61st-minute cross three minutes after coming on that Ito met and headed in from close range. Although China was unable to dictate the flow, the visitors put enough bodies in the penalty area to frustrate Japan's scoring efforts for the first hour. After Japan's second goal, China opened up their attack and finally got off their first shot in the 70th minute, from a free kick.