Japan repeat Germany heroics to stun Spain

-Spain appeared poised for straight forward evening when Morata struck early

-Ritsu Doan began turnaround shortly after half-time

-Ao Tanaka completed comeback with goal awarded after VAR delay

Japan 2-1 Spain

Goals: Spain: Morata (11) Japan: Doan (48), Tanaka (51)

Japan created a sense of déjà vu with a stunning second-half recovery to beat Spain, finish top of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Group E and set up a last-16 tie against Croatia.

The startling consequence of Japan’s improbable victory at Khalifa International Stadium is a second successive group-stage exit for Germany, the team Hajime Moriyasu’s side trailed at half-time eight days ago before roaring back for a 2-1 win.

Alvaro Morata scored his third goal in as many matches – heading in a cross from old Chelsea ally Cesar Azpilicueta – to put dominant Spain firmly in control after 11 minutes. Shuichi Gonda held a scorching Morata effort but a victory for Luis Enrique’s team to rival the seven-goal thumping Costa Rica last week seemed a legitimate prospect.

Really, though, we should have learned by now. This World Cup is making fools of a lot of observers and despite a possession share hovering around the 20-per-cent mark, Japan achieved parity three minutes after the restart.

Moriyasu’s players hounded the Spanish, trying to play from the back, and when the ball alighted with substitute Ritsu Doan, who came on to equalise against Germany, the 24-year-old belted an attempt that Unai Simon couldn’t keep out despite getting two hands to the ball.

The game was turned entirely on its head three minutes later. Doan rolled a ball to the far post, where it was kept alive by Karou Mitoma. His chopped pass from the byline invited Ao Tanaka to prod home what would be the decisive goal.

Tanaka's strike was initially ruled out but a VAR review concluded the whole ball had not crossed the byline before Mitoma squeezed back his cross for the midfielder. Japan could have extended their lead but Takuma Asano’s first-time shot squirted wide following excellence approach play from Mitoma.

The best Spain could muster after falling behind was an opening for Dani Olmo, whose weak effort was easily saved by Gonda following a brisk exchange of passes with Ferran Torres. Luis Enrique's team go through in second and will meet Morocco in the Round of 16.

Key moment

A key moment that would have felt like an eternity for the folk watching from Japan and Spain. We were still trying to make sense of Japan drawing level after the Asian team had been second best by a ginormous margin in the opening half when Tanaka tapped in from close range.

Japan celebrations were abruptly cut short when the officials determined the ball had travelled out of play before Mitoma’s cut-back to the scorer. To the naked eye, it appeared Victor Gomes, the referee, and his assistants had made the right call. In World Cups of yore that would have been the end of it. But we live in the age of the VAR and this was a boon for those who view the technology as a force for good. The slowed down images revealed Mitoma had hooked the ball back before it completed its rotation into touch.

In an instant, Tanaka’s finish went from counting for nada to one of the most significant strikes of this World Cup. Consider that Germany were condemned to a second straight group stage exit as a consequence of events at Khalifa International Stadium and the VAR’s intervention to allow Tanaka’s legitimate strike is one of the key moments of this wildly unpredictable tournament, never mind a pivotal event in one match in isolation.

Quotes

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu: "Big thanks to all our supporters, the people of Japan, for their support. Thanks to them, we were able to make it through this difficult match. I'm happy I was able to deliver the victory to everyone and, in terms of a finish, the new aim for us is the last eight. "The players are showing us a different and new view of being able to fight on the world stage and we would like to set a new record of the quarter-finals or better."

Spain coach Luis Enrique: 'In football you deserve it [win] or not and we didn't deserve it. I'm not happy at all. I would have liked to be on top and win but in five minutes Japan scored two. We were dismantled.

"We didn't have any danger in the first half and then at half-time I told them [Spain players] to be cautious because they [Japan] had nothing to lose. We collapsed and they could have scored two more goals. I'm not happy at all. I never celebrate defeats, so we have nothing to celebrate. We have qualified but I have nothing to celebrate."

Player of the Match

Ao Takama