Japan beat Spain as both advance on dramatic night

2 years ago 82

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Kaoru Mitoma scores Japan's second goal against Spain

Japan staged another extraordinary World Cup comeback to reach the last 16, overcoming a stunned Spain side who were fortunate to join them in the knockout stage.

In a tournament that has been full of shocks, this was perhaps the most dramatic night so far, with Spain left relying on the result of Germany's game with Costa Rica for them to progress

All four teams had started the evening with a chance of progressing but with Spain needing only a draw to qualify, they were not expected to need any favours from elsewhere.

La Roja were cruising at the break after Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross from close range, but Japan would quickly turn the game - and the whole of Group E - on its head.

The Samurai Blue sent on substitutes Ritsu Doan and Kaoru Mitoma at half-time and within six minutes of the restart they had both made a huge impact.

Doan equalised with a fierce shot from the edge of the area and, only 142 seconds later, Mitomo retrieved Doan's low cross and found Ao Tanaka to bundle home from close range

The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee who signalled Doan's cross had gone out of play, but the Video Assistant Referee ruled Mitomo had reached it in time.

Things got even worse for Spain when Costa Rica took a surprise lead over Germany moments later, because at that stage they were heading out.

The big screens at Khalifa International Stadium showed the updated group table, to the disbelief of the Spain supporters, and pretty much everyone else here too.

Luis Enrique's side were in big trouble, and were showing few signs of knowing how to rescue themselves, with only Germany's late rally sending La Roja through as group runners-up on goal difference.

More follows.

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Japan

Squad number12Player nameGonda
Squad number4Player nameItakura
Squad number22Player nameYoshida
Squad number3Player nameTaniguchi
Squad number14Player nameIto
Squad number17Player nameTanaka
Squad number13Player nameMorita
Squad number5Player nameNagatomo
Squad number11Player nameKubo
Squad number25Player nameMaeda
Squad number15Player nameKamada

Squad number6Player nameEndo
Squad number8Player nameDoan
Squad number9Player nameMitoma
Squad number16Player nameTomiyasu
Squad number18Player nameAsano

Spain

Squad number23Player nameSimón
Squad number2Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number4Player nameP Torres
Squad number14Player nameBalde
Squad number9Player nameGavi
Squad number5Player nameBusquets
Squad number26Player namePedri
Squad number12Player nameNico Williams
Squad number7Player nameMorata
Squad number21Player nameOlmo

Squad number10Player nameAsensio
Squad number11Player nameF Torres
Squad number18Player nameAlba
Squad number20Player nameCarvajal
Squad number25Player nameAnsu Fati

Line-ups

Japan

Formation 3-4-3

12Gonda
4ItakuraBooked at 39mins
22YoshidaBooked at 45mins
3TaniguchiBooked at 44mins
14Ito
17TanakaSubstituted forEndoat 87'minutes
13Morita
5NagatomoSubstituted forMitomaat 45'minutes
11KuboSubstituted forDoanat 45'minutes
25MaedaSubstituted forAsanoat 62'minutes
15KamadaSubstituted forTomiyasuat 69'minutes

Substitutes

1Kawashima
2Yamane
6Endo
7Shibasaki
8Doan
9Mitoma
10Minamino
16Tomiyasu
18Asano
19H Sakai
20Machino
21Ueda
23Schmidt
24Soma
26Ito

Spain

Formation 4-3-3

23Simón
2AzpilicuetaSubstituted forCarvajalat 45'minutes
16Rodri
4P Torres
14BaldeSubstituted forAlbaat 68'minutes
9GaviSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 68'minutes
5Busquets
26Pedri
12Nico WilliamsSubstituted forF Torresat 57'minutes
7MorataSubstituted forAsensioat 57'minutes
21Olmo

Substitutes

1Sánchez
3García
6Llorente
8Koke
10Asensio
11F Torres
13Raya
15Guillamón
17Pino
18Alba
19Soler
20Carvajal
22Sarabia
24Laporte
25Ansu Fati

Referee:Victor Gomes

Attendance:44,851

Live Text

Match ends, Japan 2, Spain 1.
Second Half ends, Japan 2, Spain 1.
Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rodri.
Attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rodri.
Attempt blocked. Jordi Alba (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Japan. Wataru Endo replaces Ao Tanaka.
Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Olmo.
Marco Asensio (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
Attempt saved. Ko Itakura (Japan) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ritsu Doan with a cross.
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Spain).
Kaoru Mitoma (Japan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedri.
Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Attempt missed. Takuma Asano (Japan) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma following a fast break.
Ferran Torres (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
Substitution, Japan. Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Daichi Kamada.
Substitution, Spain. Ansu Fati replaces Gavi.