Japan beat Bahrain to reach Asian Cup quarters
Saudi football chief brands Mancini penalty walkout ‘unacceptable’
Kaoru Mitoma returned as Japan survived a second-half wobble to set up an Asian Cup quarter-final with Iran or Syria after a 3-1 win over Bahrain on Wednesday. The four-time champions looked to be cruising in their last 16 game in Doha after goals either side of half-time from Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo. But an own goal from error-prone goalkeeper Zion Suzuki let Bahrain back in the game until Ayase Ueda restored Japan’s cushion just under 10 minutes later.
It was Ueda’s fourth goal of the tournament. Japan were boosted by the return of Brighton winger Mitoma, who came off the bench in the second half to play his first game since injuring his ankle on December 21. But questions remain for Hajime Moriyasu’s side, who were the pre-tournament favourites but have yet to keep a clean sheet in four games in Qatar.
Japan came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Ueda thumped a header towards
goal from a corner, only for Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah to claw it away. Bahrain also had chances to take the lead but it was Japan who struck first in the 31st minute.
Right-back Seiya Maikuma unleashed a shot from distance that cannoned against the post and Doan reacted fastest to stick home the rebound.
Japan were forced into a change when Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate went off injured five minutes later, with Hidemasa Morita coming on.
Kubo doubled Japan’s lead in the 49th minute after a VAR goal check. The Real Sociedad forward looked to be in an offside position when the ball broke loose to him in the box, but the final ball had come off a Bahrain defender.
What looked like being a stroll for Japan turned into a bad dream when Suzuki turned the ball into his own net in the 64th minute.
The 21-year-old, who has made a string of mistakes
at the Asian Cup, misjudged a punch and got tangled up with Ueda to fumble the ball over the line.
Ueda calmed Japan’s nerves in the 72nd minute when he drilled the ball home after a sweeping move forward. Mitoma was involved in several late chances after coming on in the 68th minute, but could not get on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, the president of Saudi Arabian football said Roberto Mancini’s disappearing act before the end of the penalty shootout in the team’s Asian Cup exit was “completely unacceptable”.
The Italian did not stick around to see South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan eliminate his Saudi side in the last 16 in Doha with the decisive spot-kick. Following a 1-1 draw, South Korea won 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday and will face Australia in the quarter-finals in Qatar. Mancini, 59, apologized afterwards for walking down the tunnel before their fate was sealed, saying: “I thought it was finished.”
But Saudi Football Federation president Yasser Al-Misehal made clear his unhappiness in an interview with Saudi broadcaster SSC. “The coach’s exit is completely unacceptable and we will discuss with him why this happened,” he said. “He has the right to explain his point of view and then we will decide the appropriate action.” Mancini took Italy to European Championship glory in 2021 and was appointed Saudi coach in August last year on a deal until 2027, taking him beyond the next World Cup.
It was reported that he was offered more than $25 million to join the big-spending Saudis, who are set to host the World Cup in 2034. Mancini’s job does not appear to be at immediate risk, despite the defeat extending Saudi Arabia’s wait for a fourth continental crown. They lost won it in 1996. “Technically we are satisfied with the performance presented in the Asian Cup,” said Misehal, adding: “I do not like to rush into anything.”