TOYOTA, Japan – Matchday captain Takumi Minamono was joined by Ritsu Doan on the scoresheet as Japan eased past fellow World Cup qualifiers Ghana 2-0 in a men’s international friendly on Friday.
In the first match since their historic 3-2 win over Brazil exactly a month ago, 19th-ranked Samurai Blue dominated 73rd-ranked Ghana, led by in-form Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo, at Toyota Stadium as they kept a clean sheet for the first time in four games.
“Ghana defended in numbers, and it was good preparation ahead of the World Cup, figuring out how to break them down,” manager Hajime Moriyasu said after Japan played their first match in their new kit set to be worn at the finals next summer.
A dominant Japan led in the 16th minute when Kaishu Sano dispossessed the visitors high up the pitch before delivering an accurate pass from the right for Minamino, who set himself up with a good first touch before side-footing past Ghana keeper Joseph Anang.
Jonas Adjetey deflected a shot wide for Ghana before Doan’s effort off Keito Nakamura’s low cross from the left was blocked at the other end as Japan headed to the break on top, while Semenyo was replaced in the 56th minute, devoid of much service from his teammates.
Sano’s fierce drive from the edge of the box forced a corner, and Tsuyoshi Watanabe had a header saved before Japan got their second on the hour mark, with Takefusa Kubo and Doan combining.
Kubo showed deft touches outside the box before releasing Doan to his right inside the area. The Eintracht Frankfurt attacker cut inside before conning Anang by rifling his shot inside the near post instead of curling one into the far corner.
Kamaldeen Sulemana’s low effort from 20 meters out minutes later finally tested Japan keeper Tomoki Hayakawa, starting in place of Zion Suzuki, who, according to his club Parma, is out for three to four months with left hand fractures suffered on Saturday last week.
Defender Tomoya Ando, attacker Sota Kitano and forward Keisuke Goto all got their Japan debuts with 15 minutes left. Joel Chima Fujita could only drag his shot wide after a clever through ball from Junnosuke Suzuki, but Japan comfortably saw out the game on the front foot.
“It was a good pass from Kaishu,” Minamino said of his opener. “We were focused on not losing out in one-on-ones and overwhelming the opponents from the start with high intensity.”
Doan said the match held special meaning following their win over Brazil as Japan improved their head-to-head record with Ghana to six wins and three defeats.
“Today, there was a different pressure following the Brazil game. We had this thought of not stemming the (positive) flow,” he said. “I was targeting a goal while doing my defensive duty, an essential task playing for this team. I’m glad to have contributed with a goal.”
Japan next host Bolivia in Tokyo on Tuesday in their final match of the year.
AloJapan.com