Japan national team still in top flight of the group after beating Indonesia national team, scoring 0-4 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers Round 3 Group C at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan initially struggled to impose their rhythm. Their first real chance came through Ritsu Doan, whose cross was headed narrowly wide by Koki Ogawa. However, as the first half progressed, the Samurai Blue began to dominate possession and create opportunities.
The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Koki Machida’s pass found Hidemasa Morita, whose incisive play set up Daichi Kamada. Kamada’s cross caused chaos in the box, forcing Jordi Amat to deflect the ball into his own net under pressure from Ogawa.
Just five minutes later, Kaoru Mitoma showcased his class, threading a precise pass to Takumi Minamino, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner with a sublime first-time finish. Japan entered halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Japan continued their relentless assault in the second half. A poor clearance from Indonesian goalkeeper Maarten Paes allowed Morita to seize the opportunity, threading his shot through defenders to make it 3-0.
The final blow came in the 69th minute when substitute Yukinari Sugawara hammered a tight-angle shot into the roof of the net, sealing the 4-0 triumph.
With this win, the Samurai Blue solidify their position atop Group C, collecting 13 points from five matches and inching closer to one of the two automatic berths for the 2026 Finals.
Credit Photo : JFA
