Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia
KYODO NEWS - 37 minutes ago - 22:08 | Sports, All
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.
Indonesia, coached by former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert, finished fourth in the group with three wins, three draws and four losses.
Related coverage:
Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss
Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
Japanese footballer in Australia arrested in betting scandal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
Kyodo News
6 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
The Mainichi
8 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Ohtani solid in practice as pitching comeback progresses
SAN DIEGO, California (Kyodo) -- Shohei Ohtani struck out six in three simulated innings Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star took another step toward his pitching comeback. Ohtani, kept off the Major League Baseball mound since he underwent right elbow surgery while with the Los Angeles Angels in September 2023, faced minor-league batters 11 times during a 44-pitch outing at Petco Park before the Dodgers' game against the San Diego Padres. Manager Dave Roberts said there is a "north of zero" chance of Ohtani returning as a pitcher before the All-Star break and added "It's tempting," according to The reigning National League MVP issued a walk but gave up no drives that would have likely been hits in his third live batting practice since the surgery, with his fastest pitch clocked at 96 miles per hour, according to a member of the Dodgers staff. Padres right-hander Yu Darvish watched on as his Japanese compatriot struck out a batter from a set position and used all his pitches, including sliders. "From pitch to pitch, I thought he was in command the whole time today," Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. "We were just sitting back and watching and there wasn't a whole lot to say. He was doing whatever he wanted with the baseball, with every pitch he wanted to." "He's trying to get into the 60-70 pitch range, then he can start envisioning and dreaming about being in the game because then he knows that he has the volume under him to go out there and at least take down multiple innings."
