In a dominant display, Japan opened their third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers with a resounding 7-0 victory over China. Premier League stars Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo both scored, with Mitoma netting his first goal for Japan in over a year. Endo, playing for Liverpool, opened the scoring with an unmarked header from a corner, setting the tone for Japan’s control of the match.
Brighton winger Mitoma, making his first appearance since January, followed up with a header in first-half injury time, while Takumi Minamino added two more after the break. Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda, and Takefusa Kubo completed the rout in front of over 50,000 fans in Saitama.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, Endo emphasized the challenge, stating, “We came onto the pitch with positive energy, got the first goal, and then played our football.” China’s coach, Branko Ivankovic, acknowledged Japan’s superiority, calling them a “world-class team.”
Japan will next face Bahrain away, while China plays Saudi Arabia at home.
