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Japan edged past their fellow 2018 FIFA World Cup participants Saudi Arabia by a solitary goal from Takehiro Tomiyasu in the 20th minute to storm into the quarterfinals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
A clinical display from Hajime Moriyasu’a men at the Al-Sharjah Stadium was enough to knock out Saudi Arabia, who enjoyed the majority of the possession throughout the match.
The win takes Japan one step closer to sealing the Asian Cup after a span of 8 years and the Blue Samurais have maintained a 100 per cent win record in the ongoing continental meet. Japan will face Vietnam in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup on Thursday in Dubai.
Let us look at the 3 reasons why Japan managed to beat Saudi Arabia:
#3 Disciplined defending from the Blue Samurais
Japan played brilliant football in the backline and were successful in shutting down Saudi Arabia inside the box. The disciplined defending from the centre-backs Tomiyasu and Maya Yoshida were exceptional, they were well supported by side-backs Yuta Nagatomo and Hiroki Sakai.
The full-backs were successful in keeping away any headers from their opponents. It was pretty disappointing for Saudi Arabia that they were unable to get shots on goal even though their possession was more than 70 per cent throughout. The Japanese stoppers should be largely credited for keeping Fahad Al Muwallad and Co. at bay in the knockout fixture.
For the record, Saudi Arabia produced a total of 15 shots throughout the game but had only a single shot on target during the entire 90 minutes.
Tomiyasu had a great game and probably the most memorable in his career at the International level. Apart from his duties at the back, he scored the winner in the first half.
He was a live wire for the Japanese outfits along with his compatriot. The full-back will play an influential role for his nation in the business end of the tournament.
#2 Saudia Arabia's weak finishing despite dominating the midfield
Saudi Arabia had been so dominant in the starting 20 minutes that it was obvious they would convert any minute, but football is a funny game. In spite of having the lion’s share of possession in the entire game and playing the more eye-pleasing football, they managed to get only one shot on target.
Saudi Arabia had made efficient use of the wings, but it was a rather blunt display from the forwards, especially their star striker Fahad Al Muwallad.
A series of free-kicks from a similar position near the sidelines down the right were wasted by the Saudis in the first half. Although the delivery was promising, there was no one to head it inside the net on the receiving side.
Saudi Arabia looked vulnerable when Japan went on the counter, often leaving them huge spaces to create danger for themselves. Japan exactly took advantage of this weak point, scoring the opener in the 20th minute. Till then, Saudi Arabia had more than 70% of the possession!
#1 Japan were tactically superior
Japan’s measured start to the game was a bit surprising for a neutral, but their tactics were effective as the clock rolled down. The men in blue shirts should be credited for keeping the Saudi’s in check in the final third, even though they were dominant in the midfield, unlike Japan.
But the goal in the 20th minute by Takehiro Tomiyasu changed the fate of the game. It gave them the boost which was missing from them till then, a vital fact in the context of the game. Since then, Doan and Haraguchi played freely in the wings, got ample of space to make runs to get in position to assist.
Japan made more efficient use of set-piece movements, it was evident from the first goal scored by the centre back by getting the better of his markers.
Had they been more alert, the Japanese players could have easily netted a few more, but the strikers were not up to the mark even though they had space and time to go for the kill.
Overall, Japan's superior tactics got them through to the next round, where they face Vietnam in a last-eight clash.
