Super-subs fire Japan to shock win against Germany

JAPAN produced another shock at the World Cup as late goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano saw them come from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in their Group E opener at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Having trailed to a 33rd-minute penalty from Ilkay Gundogan, who also hit the post on the hour-mark, Japan drew level with 15 minutes of normal time remaining when Doan fired in after Manuel Neuer parried a Takumi Minamino effort.

Asano then cracked past Neuer eight minutes later as the Germans became the latest victims of an upset, a day on from Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.

Leon Goretzka struck narrowly wide in stoppage-time as Germany’s late efforts to save themselves from defeat proved in vain.

It was yet further World Cup woe for four-time winners Germany, who arrived in Qatar looking to bounce back from exiting the 2018 edition, at which they had been defending champions, in the group stage.

Their second group match is a crunch clash with Spain on Sunday, when Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan take on Costa Rica.