JAKARTA: Japan thrashed Indonesia 4-0 in Jakarta on Friday as Hajime Moriyasu’s relentless side moved seven points clear at the top of Group ‘C’ of Asia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers and another step closer to an automatic finals spot.

An own goal from Justin Hubner 10 minutes before the interval gave the Japanese the lead before strikes from Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita and Yukinari Sugawara earned the visitors their fourth win in five qualifiers.

The result takes Japan onto 13 points at the halfway stage of the third round of Asian qualifying, seven clear of Australia, Saudi Arabia and China who are all on six points with Bahrain on five and Indonesia bottom with three.

The first two finishers in each of Asia’s three preliminary groups advance automatically to the 2026 World Cup while the third and fourth-placed nations progress to a further round of qualifiers.

Japan will go away to China on Tuesday knowing that another win would almost cement their World Cup place, while Indonesia face Saudi Arabia.

“I’m happy that we’re top of the group, but we haven’t gained anything yet,” said Moriyasu. “Until we manage to secure the World Cup spot we have to keep on winning.”

Despite several early scares in front of more than 70,000 fans in Jakarta, the Blue Samurai eventually carved open a home team filled with European-born players before teaching them a footballing lesson.

Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada cut past a defender in the 35th minute and squared the ball across goal, with Indonesia’s Hubner being credited with an own goal as he tried to stop striker Koki Ogawa from tapping in.

That broke more than half an hour of stubborn Indonesian resistance in heavy rain before Japan took their foot off the brakes, doubling their lead just five minutes later when Monaco’s Minamino smashed in a low shot off the left upright.

Sporting Lisbon’s Morita capitalised on a mistake by Indonesian goalkeeper Maarten Paes before substitute Sugawara smashed in a fourth to seal the thumping.

On Thursday, Branko Ivankovic’s China reignited their qualification hopes with a last-gasp 1-0 win over Bahrain in Riffa thanks to a 91st-minute Zhang Yuning strike after Herve Renard marked his return to the Saudi Arabia dugout with a 0-0 draw against hosts Australia.

The Chinese rekindled their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 2002 when Zhang pounced to defeat Bahrain with a goal from close range moments after the hosts had seen Ali Haram’s effort ruled out by VAR for offside.

Australia and Saudi Arabia shared the points at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium after the visitors had a late goal disallowed when Sultan Al-Ghannam’s low shot from just inside the area was ruled out for offside, denying a win for Renard, the second-time Saudi coach who replaced Roberto Mancini last month.

Son hits 50th South Korea goal

Son Heung-min scored his 50th international goal on Thursday as South Korea cemented their hold on top spot in Group ‘B’ with a 3-1 win at hosts Kuwait.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward converted a penalty to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute and help South Korea earn a fourth successive win in Group ‘B’ of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers to move to 13 points, five points clear at the top with five games to go.

Oh Se-hun headed in South Korea’s opener in the 10th minute and Son, who had just returned from a hamstring injury, extended the advantage after being fouled in the area. Mohammed Daham pulled a goal back with a spectacular strike with 30 minutes remaining but Bae Jun-ho sealed the win for the visitors.

Jordan and Iraq stayed in second and third place on eight points after drawing 0-0 in Basra and fourth-placed Oman had a late Muhsen Al-Ghassani strike to thank for their 1-0 win over Palestine.

Elsewhere, Iran survived a fightback from North Korea to win 3-2 and cement their spot at the top of Group ‘A’ with 13 points from a maximum 15 — three ahead of second-placed Uzbekistan.

Mohammad Mohebi scored twice and Mehdi Ghayedi also netted in the first half in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, but North Korea fought back after Iran had Shojae Khalilzadeh sent off shortly after half-time.

Mehdi Taremi sliced in an own goal in the 56th before Kim Yu Song bundled home a second for the Koreans three minutes later.

Taremi was then denied from the penalty spot by Kang Ju Hyok after 67 minutes and Ri hit the bar as Iran clung on to escape with the win.

The Koreans are rooted to the bottom of their six-team group and yet to taste victory in the third qualifying stage.

Uzbekistan remain second but saw the gap to third halved in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 defeat to Qatar in Doha.

The visitors had rebounded from Almoez Ali’s first-half double through a quick-fire brace from Abbosbek Fayzullaev late on, however defender Lucas Mendes scored in the 12th minute of injury time to breathe life back into the Asian champions’ campaign.

The 2022 hosts stay fourth and level on seven points with third-placed United Arab Emirates, who defeated Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in Abu Dhabi.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024