WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1PM
GERMANY (1) 1
(Gundogan 33 pen)
JAPAN (0) 2
(Doan 75, Asano 83)
Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan Att: 42,608 Ref: Barton (Slv)
GERMANY Neuer; Sule, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Gundogan (Goretzka 67); Gnabry (Moukoko 90), Muller (Hofmann 67), Musiala (Gotze 79); Havertz (Fullkrug 79).
JAPAN Gonda; Sakai (Minamino 74), Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo (Mitoma 57); Endo, Tanaka (Doan 71); J. Ito, Kamada, Kubo (Tomiyasu 46); Maeda (Asano 57).
GOALS
1-0 Shuichi Gonda clumsily brings down David Raum, and Gundogan slots home the penalty.
1-1 Neuer pushes Minamino’s effort back into the red zone, and Ritsu Doan nets the rebound.
1-2 Takuma Asano wonderfully controls a high long ball, accelerates away from the defender and sensationally finishes from a tight angle.
JAPANESE SUBS STUN GERMANS
As pro-active and lively after the restart as they were tentative prior to the break, Japan came from behind to secure their first-ever win against were left stunned. For long spells, they were in control and had several chances to extend their lead. Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu has a reputation for a conservative approach, but he certainly was brave in his second-half personnel calls, with two of his substitutes, Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano, netting in the final15 minutes to sensationally turn the match on its head.
