Arab News Japan

SAITAMA (Japan): In a crucial World Cup qualifying match, goals from Takumi Minamino and Junya Ito saw Japan to a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia at Saitama Stadium, north of Tokyo.

A dull first half-hour came alive after right winger Ito of Belgian team Genk set up Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino, who squeezed the ball past Saudi keeper Mohammed Khalil Ibrahim Al-Owais after a clever dummy by Japan striker Yuya Osako.

Ito came close to making it 2-0 five minutes before halftime after finding space on the right side of the penalty area, but his shot was parried away by the Saudi goalkeeper.

Ito was easily the best player on the pitch in the first half as he probed down the right wing, while Saudi Arabia concentrated their attacks down the left with Yasir Gharsan Al Shahrani and Adbulmalek Abdullah Al Khaibri who came on for the injured Abdulelah Saad Hameed Al-Malki.

Minamino blew away a great chance to make it 2-0 three minutes after the break as he miscued a volley with the goal open.

Instead, it was Ito who made it 2-0 in the 50th minute with a stunning right-foot volley after the Saudis failed to clear the ball out of defense.

While Japan didn’t have a corner until injury time, they certainly had the best chances. The only save Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda had to make was a deflected shot from Saud Abdullah Salim Abdul Hamid in the 68th minute.

The Saudis had some good moves down the right with Hattan Sultan Ahmad Bahebri and Sultan Abdullah Salim Al-Ghannam combining well, but there was too little end product to the Saudis’ attack.

At the end, it was Japan who looked more like scoring and Takuma Asano should have done better at the end of a brilliant Japan move in the 82nd minute.