Evening Standard
·24 January 2024
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·24 January 2024
Japan secured safe passage to the Asian Cup round of 16 with a comfortable 3-1 win over Indonesia.
In a winner-takes-all match in Group D, Japan were too strong for Indonesia, and avoided a second upset in five days following their shock 2-1 defeat to group winners Iraq on Friday. Indonesia now face a nervous wait to see whether their three points are enough to see them through as one of the tournament’s four best third-place teams.
Pipped by a point to top spot by Iraq, Japan made the perfect start when former Swansea City man Jordi Amat was penalised for a foul on Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda. It was Ueda himself who stepped up and slammed the penalty home for an early Japan lead.
He scored early in the second half too, converting at the back post after Ritsu Doan’s square pass across the face of goal. In stoppage time, Ueda was hunting his hat-trick, but centre-back Justin Hubner helped him out by diverting Ueda’s shot into his own net via the crossbar.
The own goal gave Japan a 3-0 lead, but they didn’t keep it for long, with Sandy Walsh converting in stoppage time to give Indonesia a consolation goal and their fans something to cheer about.