Breaking news
South Africa stripped of their 2023 Rugby World Cup title…U.S. women’s national soccer team starts World Cup with 3-0…Pakistan vs Jordan 0-3: FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier –…World Cup 2023-24 prize money: How much did Mikaela Shiffrin…T20 World Cup 2024: England star Ben Stokes pulls out…Former Michigan football tight end selects transfer destination – Yahoo…Egypt’s Late Goal Denies Mozambique’s Thrilling Comeback in the African…Ghana Suffers Heartbreaking 1-2 Defeat to Cape Verde Islands in…FIFA and Coca-Cola Men World RankingLionel Messi wins football’s Ballon d’Or for the eighth timeTwo individuals tragically lost their lives before the scheduled football…WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Brazil’s Coach Diniz Praises Neymar and Vinicius.Morocco, Portugal and Spain joint bid FIFA World Cup 2030The Best 2023: Over One Million Votes Cast with the…Euro 2028 to be hosted by Britain and Ireland, while…Portugal secures their inaugural World Cup victoryPreview of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Match: India…Welteji and Kessler achieved world record breaking performancesAsian Games 2023: Gilas Pilipinas win first men’s basketball gold Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan beat NetherlandsPakistan vs Afghanistan15 ways to make the most of your new cameraCricket News, Live Updates Today November 5, 2024: Yuvraj Singh…How belief in coach Jeff Lebby was reaffirmed in Mississippi…Richard Vogel and United Touch S Win Lyon World Cup…U-High forced to forfeit many football victories amid allegations –…Startup World Cup Expands Global Reach with New Regional Competitions…

FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Japan rides on Ao Tanaka’s early strike to beat North Korea – Sportstar

Subscribers Only Have you subscribed yet?
Buy Print
Published : Mar 21, 2024 18:47 IST , Tokyo, Japan – 1 MIN READ
Comments
follow iconFollow Us
SHARE
READ LATER
Japan’s Ao Tanaka celebrates scoring the winning goal against North Korea in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying game. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Ao Tanaka’s goal, just two minutes after kick-off, gave Japan a nervy 1-0 win over a spirited North Korea in a World Cup qualifier in Tokyo on Thursday.
Unmarked in the centre of the box, Tanaka beat exposed goalkeeper Kang Ju Hyok and put Japan a step closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026. It has three wins from three in its group and is firmly on course to reach the next stage of qualifying.
The victory was an unconvincing but welcome return to winning ways for Japan after a disappointing Asian Cup.
Soon after taking the lead, Daizen Maeda shot wide as Japan threatened to run riot. Hidemasa Morita and Ritsu Doan also had chances for the host side.
ALSO READ: Australia steps closer to FIFA World Cup 2026 with 2-0 win against Lebanon
North Korea, on the other hand, was much livelier in the second half. It was cheered on by a contingent of supporters from Japan’s 300,000-strong ethnic Korean community, waving flags and with their faces painted.
Han Kwang Song’s left-footed shot hit the post before Jong Il Gwan slotted the ricochet into the net, but he was ruled offside.
Japan was playing for the first time since their quarterfinal exit at the Asian Cup, where it lost 2-1 to Iran.
It is scheduled to play the return leg against North Korea on Tuesday in Pyongyang, Japan’s first game there since 2011.
Japan is missing Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma and Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu, both injured.
Comments
Japan /
Ao Tanaka /
Kaoru Mitoma /
FIFA World Cup 2026
BACK TO TOParrow
Terms & conditions  |  Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment

source

Share this post

PinIt

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

scroll to top