Football: Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia

The Mainichi

2 days ago

SUITA (Osaka) -- Daichi Kamada netted a brace, and match-day captain Takefusa Kubo was also among the scorers Tuesday as Japan concluded their Asian World Cup qualifiers with a 6-0 thrashing of Indonesia.
The Samurai Blue, who booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with three matches to spare, finished on top of qualifying Group C with seven wins, two draws and one defeat.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu continued to experiment with his lineup after starting an untested side in Thursday's 1-0 loss to Australia, handing the captain's armband to the 24-year-old Kubo.
Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada opened the scoring at a rainy Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, when he headed in Shunsuke Mito's cross from the left in the 15th minute.
Kubo doubled the margin with a stylish finish four minutes later, intercepting a deflected ball and chipping high into the net from close range. The Real Sociedad star set up Kamada to tap home his second in injury time, giving the Samurai Blue a 3-0 halftime lead.
After starting on the right, winger Ryoya Morishita of Polish outfit Legia Warszawa found the net early in the second half for his first international goal, which was quickly followed by a Shuto Machino strike that made it 5-0. Mao Hosoya completed the scoring off the bench in the 80th minute.
"The players' efforts led to this result," said Moriyasu, who has set the ambitious target of winning the World Cup, to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer.
"There is still a lot we need to learn and improve, both the players and the team as a whole."
Indonesia, coached by former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert, finished fourth in the group with three wins, three draws and four losses.