At 18:14 Beijing time on February 1, the Japanese team and Saudi Arabia played a focus battle in the round of twelve. In the first half, Jun Ito broke through the killing machine on the right side, Takumi Minamino opened the record for the Japanese team, and in the second half, Jun Ito also volleyed into the dead corner to expand the score. In the end, Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and rose to second place in the group, just one point away from Saudi Arabia at the top of the table.
Goal review
32' Takumi Minamino
50' Junya Ito
The course of the game
In the 20th minute, Saudi Arabia's Marki was replaced by an injury, and his eyes were red because he could not hold on to the game.
In the 23rd minute, the Japanese team sent a long pass from the backcourt, Andaku Daisuke and Jun Ito also created a killing chance, and the Saudi defender released the ball on the goal line. However, the referee signaled that the ball was offside.
In the 27th minute, Saudi Arabia fired a corner kick and Shahrani's long-range shot from outside the box was deflected off the beaten track.
In the 32nd minute, Junya Ito broke through on the right side to create a killing chance, Daisuke also missed a point, Takumi Minamino clipped the defender to hit the goal, the goalkeeper pounced but still could not stop the ball from rolling into the goal! 1-0！ Japan took the lead.
In first-half stoppage time, Endo's long-range shot went high over the goal.
In the 49th minute, Hiroki Sakai's cross from the right hit the back post and Takumi Minamino's volley failed to strike right.
In the 50th minute, Jun Ito also scored the ball on the line of the big penalty area, and the ball flew straight into the dead corner to break the goal! Japan leads Saudi Arabia 2-0!
In the 65th minute, Takumi Minamino's long-range shot from outside the box deflected off goal.
In the 81st minute, Hiroki Sakai crossed from the right, Takuma Asano grabbed the point and hit the goal, but unfortunately the goalkeeper blocked the angle and hit the ball high!
Both sides of the lineup
Japan Starters: 12-Shuichi Kwonda, 5-Yuto Nagatomo, 3-Akira Taniguchi, 4-Itakura, 19-Hiroki Sakai, 6-Hang Endo, 13-Hidesumasa Morita, 17-Bi Tanaka, 10-Takumi Minamino, 14-Junya Ito, 15-Ōkuri
Replacements: 1-Nagatsugu Kawaki, 2-Ueda Naotsu, 7-Shibasaki-Dake, 9-Maeda Dainen, 8-Haraguchi Motonori, 11-Kubo Takehide, 16-Nakatani Konosuke, 18-Asano Takuma, 20-Nakayama Yuta, 21-Doan Ritsu, 22-Yamane Korai, 23-Tan-Sane
Saudi Arabia: 21 - Mohammed Orwais, Ganem, 4 - Abdullah Amri, 5 - Ali Brehi, 13 - Yasser Shahlani, 8 - Abdullach Marki, 15 - Ali Hassan, 10 - Salem - Dawasari, 19 - Fahd Muwarad, 9 - Felas Brykan, 23 - Mohammed Kanu
Substitutes: 1 - Mohammed Yami, 3 - Ziyad Sakhafi, 6 - Khalid Ganam, 7 - Abdulmalek Khayiri, 11 - Saleh Sheikhri, 16 - Sami Najib, 12 - Shat - Abdul Hamid, 14 - Moteb Halbi, 18 - Khatan Bakhribri, 17 - Ahmad Sharakiri, 22 - Fawaz Karni, 20 - Khalid Ghana