Doha, November 23 (QNA) - The Japanese national team achieved a surprise at the start of their campaign in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, by defeating Germany 2-1 in the match that took place today at Al Bayt stadium in the first round of Group E competitions.
Japan's goals were scored by Ritsu Doan n in the 75th minute, and Takuma Asano in the 83rd minute, while Germany's goal was scored by Ilkai Gundogan in the 33rd minute (from a penalty kick).
With this result, the Japanese national team won their first three points in the tournament, while the German national team remained without points.
In their second World Cup match, Japan will face Costa Rica next Sunday at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, while Germany will compete against Spain on the same day at Al Bayt Stadium.
Despite the cautious start, the Germany-Japan match was strong, and the Japanese team sought to surprise their opponents from the very beginning leading a concentrated attack, in the eighth minute by its striker Daizen Maeda who scored a goal , which was ruled offside.
This attempt angered the German team who began to pose a danger to their opponents' defense. Joshua Kimmich and Antonio Rudiger missed two goal chances for Germany in the 14th and 17th minutes.
The German team's offensive attempts continued, and in the 20th minute Kimmich hit a powerful ball that the Japanese goalkeeper managed to push away with difficulty, to be received by his colleague Ilkai Gundogan who aimed at the goal, but his shot lacked accuracy and focus and passed over the posts.
In turn, the Japanese national team missed a serious opportunity by its player Kou Itakura, after his shot went just wide of the goal.
In the 28th minute, the German players led an organized attack, and the ball reached Ilkai Gundogan in the penalty area, who sent a powerful shot, which was brilliantly saved by Shuichi Gonda, the Japanese goalkeeper.
In the 33rd minute, the German national team won a penalty kick, after the referee returned to the VAR , after Japan's goalkeeper blocked German defender David Raum.
Ilkai Gundogan succeeded in executing the penalty kick to open the score and lead the German team forward.
The German team continued to put pressure on their opponents and almost added the second goal on several occasions, most notably in the 38th minute by Gnabry Serge and Jamal Musiala, 41 by Gundogan and 42 by Kimmich.
In the minute (45 + 4), the referee ruled out a goal for Germany as Kai Havertz was off side.
The first half with the German team leading 1-0.
Starting the second half, the German team intensified their offensive attempts and wasted the opportunity for a second goal by Gnabry in the 47th minute, after a powerful shot had passed near the posts In turn, the Japanese team sought to balance the score, but their attempts were deterred by the German defense.
The competition between the two sides continued throughout the remaining minutes of the second half, and Germany's Serge missed three consecutive chances to score in the 70th, 71st and 72nd minutes.
In the 75th minute, Japan's Ritsu Doan scored the equalizer for Japan.
Japan continued to put pressure on their opponents, and in the 83rd minute, Takuma Asano added the second goal for his team for Japan to win the encounter despite the added 7 minutes of substitute time. (QNA)