The top two will qualify for Qatar 2022 directly. We managed it well and we didn't concede a goal,' Moriyasu added.Ĭhina was drawn into Group B of the final round with Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam. I knew that the Chinese will raise their intensity in the second half, they put more players in the front line as well. 'Our aggressive style of football forced China to play in defence, it was not the way Chinese play. I can see the fitness conditions are much better than the first match.' The Japanese head coach Hajime Moriyasu said that he is happy to see his team back on track. No matter starters or substitutes, they all fought hard.' 'All my players have equal opportunities, I only select the starting lineup on the basis of the game plan and requirements. I am satisfied with the fighting spirits of my players,' Li noted. We saw the gap between us and the best team in Asia through the game. 'I am very grateful for the efforts of my players. The 'Samurai Blue' broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, when Junya Ito raced down the right flank and found Osako inside the box, who tapped in the ball to put his side 1-0 ahead.Īfter the restart, China managed to keep Japan at bay but was unable to level the score despite sending strikers Alan and Luo Guofu on the pitch in a bid to strengthen counter-attack. 20-year-old forward Kubo Takefusa penetrated into the penalty area in the 22nd minute, but his close-range shot was denied by the post. Japan controlled the first half with 78 percent ball possession and 14 shots. 'We had a preliminary plan when Zhang couldn't play, the young defender Zhu played a very good match and executed our tactics well.' His injury seems very severe and he will go through PCR test tomorrow,' Li said in the post-match press conference. But they suffered an early setback as veteran center back Zhang Linpeng had to be stretched out just five minutes into play due to a waist injury and Zhu Chenjie filled his place. Both teams were eager to get their qualification campaign back on track.įacing Japan, the highest FIFA ranked team in Asia, Chinese head coach Li Tie fielded five defenders in the starting line-up. [Photo/XinhuaĭOHA, Sept - Yuya Osako's first-half goal helped Japan beat China 1-0 in the final round of the FIFA World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers on Tuesday.Ĭhina came into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Australia, while Japan was stunned by Oman 1-0 in its opener of the final qualifying round. China's Zhang Linpeng (No 5) reacts as he quits the match due to waist injury during the final round of the FIFA World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers against Japan in Doha, Qatar, September 8, 2021.

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