World Cup 2022: Japan 2-1 Spain: Japan and Spain both continued in a dramatic night

Japan scored a controversial winner as they made another exceptional World Cup comeback to the top of Group E, ahead of Spain and reaching the Round of 16.

Ao Tanaka scored Japan’s second goal after the video referee ruled the ball had not gone out of play before substitute Kaoru Mitoma crossed from the baseline, despite what it looked like at first glance.

It was the defining moment in a stunning performance against a Spanish side lucky enough to meet Japan in the knockout stages.

In a tournament riddled with shocks, it was perhaps the most dramatic night yet as Spain had to rely on the result of Germany’s game against Costa Rica to progress.

All four teams had started the evening with a chance of progressing but with Spain only needing a draw to qualify it was not to be expected that they would need any favors from anyone else.

La Roja ran into the break after Alvaro Morata headed in a Cesar Azpilicueta cross from close range, but Japan would quickly turn the game – and all of Group E – upside down.

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

Doan equalized with a powerful shot from the edge of the box and just 142 seconds later Mitomo reclaimed Doan’s low cross and found Tanaka firing home from close range in dramatic circumstances.

The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee, who signaled Doan’s cross had gone wide, but the VAR ruled Mitomo had reached them in time.

To the naked eye it appeared to be over the line, but to the delight of the Japanese players, it was decided that the ball’s curvature was hanging over the chalk.

Things got even worse for Spain when moments later Costa Rica surprisingly took the lead against Germany because they were on their way at the time.

The big screens at Khalifa International Stadium also showed the updated group table, to the disbelief of the Spanish fans and pretty much everyone else here.

Luis Enrique’s side were in deep trouble and showed few signs of recovery, with only Germany’s late rally sending La Roja through on goal difference to finish second in the group.

Next Japan meets Croatia

Japan’s reward for a remarkable performance is a draw against Croatia in the round of 16, while a relieved Spanish side will play Morocco.

This stadium was the setting for Japan’s stunning win over Germany in the tournament’s opening match and once again it clearly inspired them.

The high pressing that crushed Germany had unsettled Spain at times in the first half, but there was little sign of what was to come.

Morata seemed to be the story of the evening as he scored his third goal of the tournament, equaling Telmo Zarra’s record set in 1950 when he scored in his first three World Cup appearances for Spain.

Japan had other ideas and charged at Spain early in the second half, again refusing to let them on the ball when they tried to build up from behind.

Doan started her resuscitation, collecting the ball on the edge of the box after another loose pass from Simon and firing off a thunderous shot that Simon got with two hands but couldn’t parry.

That caused excitement among Japan’s supporters, but thanks to Tanaka, more excitement would quickly follow, albeit after a lengthy VAR check.

Spain had practically the whole of the second half to recover, but they either lacked the energy or ideas – or both – and could rarely threaten Shuichi Gonda in the Japanese goal.

It was only the news of Germany’s comeback that relaxed the Spanish fans in the closing minutes, with goals from La Roja in their opening 7-0 win over Costa Rica proving the decisive factor in their progress.

player of the game

MitoKaoru Mitoma

Japan

1. squad number9player nameMito

2. squad number25player namemaeda

3. squad number16player nameTomiyasu

4. squad number8thplayer namedoan

5. squad number6player nameEndo

6. squad number18player nameAsano

7. squad number11player namekubo

8. squad number17player nameTanaka

9. squad number13player nameMorita

10. squad number22player nameYoshida

11. squad number14player nameThis

12. squad numberfifteenplayer nameKamada

13. squad number3player nametaniguchi

14. squad number5player nameNagatomo

15. squad number4player nameIt doesn’t age

16. squad number12player nameGonda

Spain

1. squad number9player nameGavi

2. squad number7player namemorata

3. squad number26player namePedri

4. squad number2player nameAzpilicueta

5. squad number21player nameelm

6. squad number16player nameRodri

7. squad number12player nameNiko Williams

8. squad number5player namebouquets

9. squad number4player nameP Torres

10. squad number14player nameBucket

11. squad number23player nameSimon

12. squad number25player nameAnsu Fati

13. squad number20player nameCarvajal

14. squad number10player nameAsensi

15. squad number11player nameF Torres

16. squad number18player nameAlba

lineups

Japan

formation 3-4-3

12Gonda

4It doesn’t age22Yoshida3taniguchi

14This17Tanaka13Morita5Nagatomo

11kubo25maedafifteenKamada

• 12Gonda
• 4It doesn’t ageBooked at 39 minutes
• 22Yoshida45 minutes booked
• 3taniguchiBooked at 44 minutes
• 14This
• 17TanakaReplaced byEndoat 87′protocol
• 13Morita
• 5NagatomoReplaced byMitoat 45′protocol
• 11kuboReplaced bydoanat 45′protocol
• 25maedaReplaced byAsanoat 62′protocol
• fifteenKamadaReplaced byTomiyasuat 69′protocol

substitute

• 1Kawashima
• 2Yamane
• 6Endo
• 7Shibasaki
• 8thdoan
• 9Mito
• 10Minamino
• 16Tomiyasu
• 18Asano
• 19H Sakai
• 20machino
• 21Ueda
• 23Schmidt
• 24soma
• 26This

Spain

formation 4-3-3

23Simon

2Azpilicueta16Rodri4P Torres14Bucket

9Gavi5bouquets26Pedri

12Niko Williams7morata21elm

• 23Simon
• 2AzpilicuetaReplaced byCarvajalat 45′protocol
• 16Rodri
• 4P Torres
• 14BucketReplaced byAlbaat 68′protocol
• 9GaviReplaced byAnsu Fatiat 68′protocol
• 5bouquets
• 26Pedri
• 12Niko WilliamsReplaced byF Torresat 57′protocol
• 7morataReplaced byAsensiat 57′protocol
• 21elm

substitute

• 1sanchez
• 3Garcia
• 6Llorente
• 8thInstantly
• 10Asensi
• 11F Torres
• 13raya
• fifteenGuillamón
• 17pino
• 18Alba
• 19soler
• 20Carvajal
• 22sarabia
• 24Laporte
• 25Ansu Fati

Referee: Victor Gomes

Number of visitors: 44,851

live text

1. Game ends, Japan 2, Spain 1.

2. Second half ends, Japan 2, Spain 1.

3. attempt failed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rodri.

4. attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Ferran Torres.

5. attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rodri.

6. attempt blocked. Jordi Alba (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

7. Substitution Japan Wataru Endo replaces Ao Tanaka.

8. attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Olmo.

9. Marco Asensio (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.

10. Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).

11. attempt saved. Ko Itakura (Japan) header from the center of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ritsu Doan with a cross.

12. Foul by Sergio Busquets (Spain).

13. Kaoru Mitoma (Japan) wins a free kick on the left wing.

14. attempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedri.

15. attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordi Alba.

16. attempt failed. Takuma Asano (Japan) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma after a quick break.

17. Ferran Torres (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

18. Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).

19. Substitution Japan with Takehiro Tomiyasu replacing Daichi Kamada.

20. Substitution Spain. Ansu Fati replaces Gavi.

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