Japan Shows Strength, Beats Thailand 5-0 In 2023 Asian Cup Warming Match

Japan's squad is heading for the 2024 Asian Cup. (photo; x @jfa_en)

JAKARTA - Japan, a candidate against Indonesia in the 2023 Asian Cup group stage, showed itself as a tough team by beating Thailand 5-0 in a warm-up match in Tokyo, Monday, January 1. Coach of the Blue Samurai team, Hajime Moriyasu, as quoted by AFP, said he was preparing his squad to face the Asian Cup in Qatar which began January 12. In that warm-up match Moriyasu fielded an inexperienced line-up as there were several players based overseas who could not be fielded against Thailand who would also appear in the Asian Cup. After a goalless draw in the first half, Ao Tanaka broke the deadlock for the four-time Asian champion during the game in the second half running five minutes, in front of more than 60,000 spectators in the match which was held to coincide with the new year.Keito Nakamura added a second goal before Thailand's own goal, followed by a header from Takumu Kawamura, and Takumi Minamino's final kick complements Japan's superiority.Moriyasu will announce 26 of his players after that test match, however, the injured Brighton winger, wary Mitoma, still doubts his participation. The 26-year-old player had to be sidelined for up to six weeks after experiencing an ankle injury when Brighton drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace on December 21, 2023. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, and Arsenal defender, Takehiro Tomiyasu, is expected to be selected for the tournament, along with Real Sociedad's attacking midfielder, Takefusa Kubo.Moriya gave his debut chance to Haruya Fujii, Ryotaro Ito, and Kanji Okunuki in a warm-up match against Thailand.

Ito sempat mendapat peluang terbaik pada babak pertama. Ia melepaskan tembakan yang melebar dari tiang, sebelum mengarahkan bola melewati mistar gawang setelah Mao Hosoya memberikan umpan kepadanya.Moriyasukemudian melakukan perubahan pada paruh kedua yang terbukti memberikan hasil baik dengan Tanaka mencetak gol pembuka pada menit ke-50.Tendangan Nakamura membentur tiang 10 menit kemudian dan penyerang Reims itu mencetak gol tak lama setelah itu dari pantulan bola jarak dekat.Thailand mencetak gol bunuh diri setelah terjadi tendangan sudut tiga menit kemudian, sebelum pemain pengganti Kawamura mencetak gol pada debutnya. Minamino mencetak gol dari jarak dekat di masa tambahan waktu untuk gol kelima Jepang.Jepang tergabung di Grup D Piala Asia yang juga berisi Indonesia, Irak, dan Vietnam. Sementara itu Thailand tergabung di Grup F dan akan bermain melawan Arab Saudi, Kyrgyzstan, dan Oman.