At 18:00 on the evening of June 2, the 2022 Kirin Cup was played on the stage of the Tokyo National Stadium, with hosts Japan and Paraguay battling it out. The match ended in a 4-1 victory for Japan. In the 36th and 42nd minutes of the match, Takuma Asano and Kamada Daichi scored goals, and although Gonzalez saved Paraguay's life with a long-distance shot in the 59th minute, Mitaka Osura and substitute Tanaka Bee scored in the 61st and 85th minutes to seal the victory.
Japan made it to the World Cup final round for the seventh consecutive time after finishing second in Group B of the Asian 12 in the World Qualifying Tournament. In the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, Japan is in Group E with Spain, Germany, and Costa Rica and New Zealand. Paraguay, on the other hand, finished eighth in the South American zone of the World Qualifying Tournament and unfortunately failed to secure a spot in the Qatar World Cup.
[Competition Highlights]
In the fifth minute at the start of the match, Don Yasutoshi attempted a sweeping shot from the left side of the box, while Rojas made a great save to put the ball off the line.
Immediately after, in the 6th minute, Hiromu Endo took a shot from close range in the penalty area but kicked the ball away.
In the 11th minute, Mitaka Omao cleverly passed Rafael Benitez and broke through to the left side of the penalty area, where Kamada Oda's shot from the left side of the penalty area hit the post.
In the 27th minute, Sanfelt MMA cut inside the left side of the penalty area and the ball bounced off the ground causing Rojas to make a mistake.
In the 29th minute, Leaf-Ross popped a shot from the outside that Schmidt made a diving save.
Schmidt again cleared the danger in the 30th minute when Oscar Romero fired in a free kick from the top of the arc.
In the 36th minute, Genki Haraguchi grabbed the ball in the center circle and sent a direct shot from the left rib, Takuma Asano easily rubbed the ball in front of the attacking Haros to give Japan a 1-0 lead!
In the 40th minute, Vision Yamane's push from the right side of the box was not powerful enough for Rojas to easily pocket the ball.
Japan took a 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute when Don Yasutoshi's quality cross from the right was headed in by Kamada Daichi at the edge of the penalty area!
In the 59th minute, Oscar Romero grabbed a break on the right and dipped a shot from the right side of the arc for Gonzalez to make it 1-2 Paraguay!
In the 61st minute, Japan took a 3-1 lead when Shogo Taniguchi slotted a shot from the left side of the box!
In the 69th minute, Kamada Daichi was tackled by Rojas on the right side of the box. a minute later, Don Yasuru's penalty kick was punched away by Rojas, and Yamane Sirai's follow-up shot in front of the goal was put high and wide.
In the 82nd minute, Kamada Daizo broke through and shot the ball, which was refracted off a defender and parried by Rojas. Daizan Maeda swept a shot from inside the penalty area, but the ball was kicked away.
Japan took a 4-1 lead in the 85th minute when Kamata Daiichi crossed from the left and Tanaka Bea fired a long shot from the top of the arc!
In the end, Japan thrashed Paraguay by a score of 4-1.
[Both lineups]
Japan (433): 23-Schmidt; 26-Yohki Ito, 22-Maya Yoshida (46'20-Yuta Nakayama), 3-Ashigo Taniguchi, 2-Minoru Yamane; 15-Hyunao Mitaniabashi (82'19-Hengyu Furuhashi), 6-Kohru Endo (46'4-Itakura Hwang), 8-Genki Haraguchi (62'17-Bi Tanaka); 9-Dai Kamada, 18-Takuma Asano (46'24-Daeran Maeda), 21-Yasu Don (71) -Genki Haraguchi (62'17 - Bea Tanaka); 9 - Daichi Kamada, 18 - Takuma Asano (46'24 - Dairan Maeda), 21 - Yasutoshi Don (71'11 - Kenyoung Kubo);
Substitutes: 1 - Kawashima Nagasaki, 5 - Nagatomo Yuto, 12 - Gonda Shuichi, 14 - Ito Junya, 25 - Ueda Eisei, 28 - Osako Keisuke
Paraguay (4231): 22 Rojas; 15 Liv Ross, 3 Aldrete, 5 Zarate, 2 Benitez; 18 Cubas, 20 Sanchez (65'16 Lucena); 10 Almiron, 21 Oscar Romero (65'19 Medina), 7. Gonzalez; 9-Avaros (65'11-Angel Romero);
Substitutes not on the field: 1 Silva, 4 Azamendia, 8 Ortiz, 12 Espinola, 14 Martinez, 17 Morel, 23 Coleman
