AFC Asian Cup 2023: Japan cruise past Indonesia to sail to knockouts

Japan emerged as the second team from Group D to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup RO16.

Ayase Ueda scored a goal in each half as Japan eased to a 3-1 win over Indonesia at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday as the four-times champions confirmed their place in the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 as runners-up in Group D.

Ueda’s sixth minute penalty put Hajime Moriyasu’s side in early control and the Feyenoord striker doubled his team’s lead seven minutes into the second half to ensure the Samurai Blue bounced back from their 2-1 loss against Iraq on Matchday Two.

Indonesia’s Justin Hubner put the ball in his own net three minutes from time before Sandy Walsh struck at the other end a minute into injury time when he slotted a consolation past Zion Suzuki.

The result means Japan finish behind Iraq while Indonesia take third place and will have to wait for the conclusion of the group phase on Thursday to determine if they will advance to the last 16.

The Japanese wasted little time imposing themselves on the game and within three minutes Ritsu Doan’s clever pass into the penalty area had released Ueda, who was wrestled to the ground by Indonesia captain Jordi Amat.

Referee Khamis Al Marri initially allowed play to continue before being called to the pitch-side monitor and he had little hesitation to point to the spot, from where Ueda slammed his right-foot shot emphatically beyond Ernando Ari’s reach.

The early goal allowed the Samurai Blue to control the game, dominating possession and pressing the Indonesians into mistakes deep in their own territory, with Takefusa Kubo dragging his effort wide midway through the half.

The Indonesians had a sight of goal when Marselinho was played into space on the half-hour mark but his attempt was steered out for a corner by Yuta Nakayama as he covered Suzuki’s near post.

Japan responded by further increasing the tempo, Kubo clipping the ball over the defence for Seiya Maikuma to cut back at full stretch to the lurking Nakamura, only for his shot to bounce to safety off the inside of the post with Ernando well beaten.

Seven minutes into the second half Ueda was on target again, this time finishing off a flowing team move that started with Takehiro Tomiyasu feeding Doan in midfield.

The Freiburg winger galloped through the middle before receiving a return pass from Nakamura to set up Ueda with the simplest of finishes at the far post with a defence-splitting angled pass across the face of goal.

Doan was millimetres away from his side’s third two minutes later when he side-footed across goal and Hubner cleared a headed effort from the Bundesliga-based winger off his own line in the 64th minute.

Hubner redirected Ueda’s 87th minute effort into his own goal off the underside of the crossbar as the Japanese attacked again before Sandy Walsh beat Suzuki low at his near post with a strike from close range.

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