Match report

Japan Stuns Spain 2-1 in World Cup Thriller

Japan
Japan
2–1
FT
Spain
Spain
Dec 1, 2022

Japan staged an impressive comeback to stun Spain 2-1 in their World Cup encounter. After falling behind to a goal from Alvaro Morata, Japan rallied through second-half strikes by Ritsu Doan and Daizen Maeda to secure the victory.

Key Facts

  • • Spain's Alvaro Morata opened the scoring at minute 11 with an assist from Cesar Azpilicueta.
  • • Japan equalized through Ritsu Doan in the 48th minute, assisted by Takumi Minamino.
  • • Daizen Maeda secured the win for Japan with a goal in the 51st minute, assisted by Kaoru Mitoma.
  • • Japan received three yellow cards within five minutes: Koji Itakura (39'), Shogo Taniguchi (44'), and Maya Yoshida (45').

Lineups

Japan

Formation: 3-4-3

Starting XI

  • 12 S. Gonda (G)
  • 4 K. Itakura (M)
  • 22 M. Yoshida (M)
  • 3 S. Taniguchi (D)
  • 14 J. Ito (D)
  • 13 H. Morita (M)
  • 17 A. Tanaka (M)
  • 5 Y. Nagatomo (D)
  • 15 D. Kamada (F)
  • 25 D. Maeda (F)
  • 11 T. Kubo (F)

Substitutes

  • 9 K. Mitoma
  • 8 R. Dōan
  • 18 T. Asano
  • 16 T. Tomiyasu
  • 6 W. Endo
  • 19 H. Sakai
  • 2 M. Yamane
  • 24 Y. Soma
  • 20 S. Machino
  • 23 D. Schmidt
  • 10 T. Minamino
  • 7 G. Shibasaki
  • 26 H. Ito
  • 21 A. Ueda
  • 1 E. Kawashima

Spain

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 23 Unai Simón (G)
  • 2 César Azpilicueta (D)
  • 16 Rodri (D)
  • 4 Pau Torres (M)
  • 14 Alejandro Balde (D)
  • 9 Gavi (M)
  • 5 Sergio Busquets (D)
  • 26 Pedri (M)
  • 12 Nico Williams (F)
  • 7 Álvaro Morata (F)
  • 21 Dani Olmo (F)

Substitutes

  • 20 Dani Carvajal
  • 11 Ferran Torres
  • 10 Marco Asensio
  • 25 Ansu Fati
  • 18 Jordi Alba
  • 6 Marcos Llorente
  • 8 Koke
  • 19 Carlos Soler
  • 17 Yeremy Pino
  • 22 Pablo Sarabia
  • 24 Aymeric Laporte
  • 3 Eric García
  • 15 Hugo Guillamón
  • 13 David Raya
  • 1 Robert Sánchez

Timeline

  1. Spain
    11' Spain Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Morata · Assist: C. Azpilicueta
  2. Japan
    39' Japan Card · Yellow Card
    K. Itakura

    Foul

  3. Japan
    44' Japan Card · Yellow Card
    Shogo Taniguchi

    Foul

  4. Japan
    45' Japan Card · Yellow Card
    Maya Yoshida

    Foul

  5. Spain
    46' Spain subst · Substitution 1
    Off: C. Azpilicueta · On: D. Carvajal
  6. Japan
    46' Japan subst · Substitution 2
    Off: T. Kubo · On: R. Doan
  7. Japan
    48' Japan Goal · Normal Goal
    R. Doan · Assist: J. Ito
  8. Japan
    51' Japan Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Tanaka · Assist: K. Mitoma
  9. Japan
    52' Japan Var · Goal confirmed
    A. Tanaka
  10. Spain
    57' Spain subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Nico Williams · On: F. Torres
  11. Spain
    57' Spain subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Morata · On: M. Asensio
  12. Japan
    62' Japan subst · Substitution 3
    Off: D. Maeda · On: T. Asano
  13. Spain
    68' Spain subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Gavi · On: A. Fati
  14. Spain
    68' Spain subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Balde · On: Jordi Alba
  15. Japan
    69' Japan subst · Substitution 4
    Off: D. Kamada · On: T. Tomiyasu
  16. Japan
    87' Japan subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Tanaka · On: W. Endo

Match Stats

Stat Japan Spain
Fouls 9 6
Pass Accuracy 67% 92%
Offsides 2 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 6 12
Corners 0 2
Total Passes 228 1058
Yellow Cards 3 0
Blocked Shots 1 5
Shots on Target 3 5
Shots off Target 2 2
Possession 18% 82%
Accurate Passes 153 969
Shots Inside Box 4 6
Saves 4 1
Shots Outside Box 2 6

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The turning point came in the 48th minute when Ritsu Doan's goal equalized for Japan, reigniting their offensive momentum.
  • ▸ Daizen Maeda's quick follow-up goal just three minutes later solidified Japan's dominance and changed the course of the match.