Mitoma, Endo lead Japan to 7-0 victory over China in World Cup Qualifiers

Japan kicked off their third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers with an emphatic 7-0 win over China, powered by goals from Premier League stars Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo. 

Brighton winger Mitoma, returning from injury after his last appearance in January’s Asian Cup, made his presence felt with a first-half header.

Liverpool midfielder Endo opened the scoring early in the match, setting the tone for a dominant Japanese performance.

After the break, Takumi Minamino added two more goals, allowing Japan to cruise past a China team eager to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

Junya Ito, also returning to international play since the Asian Cup, netted another goal, while late strikes from Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo sealed the commanding victory for Hajime Moriyasu’s side.

Japan’s resounding performance in front of over 50,000 fans in Saitama sends a strong message as they continue their World Cup qualification campaign.

Skipper Endo said the win “wasn’t easy” despite the one-sided scoreline.

“We came onto the pitch with positive energy,” he said.

“We got the first goal from a set piece and then we played our own football and the goals kept coming. We got the three points and it was a great game.”

It was a night to forget for China, who squeezed into the third qualifying round thanks to a superior head-to-head record over Thailand.

“Japan are very strong. They are the top team in Asia and it’s not just Asia — they are a world-class team,” said China’s Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic.

“We will work together and see if there is anything we can learn from this game,” he added.

Japan and China have been placed in a challenging Group C for the World Cup qualifiers, alongside Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia.

With only the top two teams guaranteed a spot at the World Cup, and the third and fourth positions leading to an additional round of qualifying, every match in this group holds significant weight.

After their commanding 7-0 victory over China, Japan will next face Bahrain away on Tuesday, while China hosts Saudi Arabia, seeking to bounce back from the heavy defeat.

Mitoma’s Moment of Relief

In their match against China, Japan’s Wataru Endo capitalized on a defensive lapse to head home the opener from a corner.

Right before half-time, Kaoru Mitoma extended Japan’s lead, nodding in Ritsu Doan’s cross in injury time, marking his return to international action with a much-needed goal.

It was the 27-year-old Mitoma’s first goal for his country in more than a year, and he said he was “relieved” to get on the scoresheet.

“The home support was overwhelming and that allowed us to play well from the first whistle,” said Mitoma.

“Playing against Bahrain away will be tough and I hope we can repeat this kind of performance.”

Minamino got Japan off to a flying start to the second half with two goals in the space of six minutes.

Ito then marked his return to the team with Japan’s fifth goal after coming on as a substitute.

The Reims winger had not featured since he left the Asian Cup squad after a Japanese magazine published allegations that he sexually assaulted two women in a hotel in Osaka last year.

Japanese prosecutors dropped charges against the player last month and he has denied any wrongdoing.