Japanese turnaround seals top spot in Group E

Same stadium. Same result. Similar shock‐ ing victory for Japan at the World Cup.

After beating Germany 2‐1 in its opener, Japan found its way into the round of 16 of the World Cup by defeating Spain by the same score in its last group game Thurs‐ day.

Spain also advanced despite the loss. Japan scored twice early in the second half to come from behind and defeat an‐ other European powerhouse and make it to the knockout stage for the second straight time.

It was the first time Japan has advanced past the group stage in back‐to‐back tour‐ naments.

Ao Tanaka scored the winning goal from close range early in the second half. It took about two minutes for video review offi‐ cials to confirm the ball hadn't gone out of bounds before the goal that gave Japan the win at Khalifa International Stadium, which is where Japan had shocked Ger‐ many in its opener.

Japan finished at the top of Group E to set up a last‐16 matchup against Croatia. Spain finished second and will take on Mo‐ rocco.

Spain and Germany — which beat Costa Rica 4‐2 — both had three points in the group. But Spain had a superior goal dif‐ ference from its first group match so Ger‐ many was eliminated.

The group standings bounced back and forth during both matches. Costa Rica was beating Germany at one point. If that re‐ sult had stood, Costa Rica would have eliminated Spain.

Álvaro Morata scored first for Spain in the 11th minute and Spain was in control until Japan rallied after halftime. Ritsu Doan equalized in the 48th with a left‐ footed shot from outside the box, and Tanaka added the second three minutes later.

Morata became the first player to score in the first three Spain matches at the World Cup since Telmo Zarra in 1950.

Spain had opened with a 7‐0 rout of Costa Rica before conceding late in a 1‐1 draw against Germany.

Japan was eliminated by Belgium in the last 16 in Russia. It has never gone past the round of 16 at World Cups.