Germany vs. Japan: 1-4
A surprising result occurred in the test match between "Germany vs. Japan: 1-4". Appearing as hosts, Germany suffered a crushing defeat from Japan.
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| Ayase Ueda celebrates his goal to give Japan a 2-1 lead over Germany. (Photo: espn.com) |
The Germany vs. Japan match was held at the Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg. Germany fell behind first to Junya Ito's goal before leveling the scores through Leroy Sane.
The course of the match "Germany vs Japan"
Japan regained the lead at halftime through Ayase Ueda's goal. After the restart, Japan added two more goals in the final minutes from Takuma Asano and Ao Tanaka.
With this defeat, Germany means that it has failed to win five games. Germany will still play one more game when they face a tough team France on September 12.
Also, read: "Ukraine vs. England: 1-1" in Euro 2024 Qualifiers.
Japan stunned Germany after Junya Ito opened the scoring in the 10th minute. The attack into the central area was ended by Yukinari Sugawara with a cross from the right. Ito greeted with a right-footed strike into the top corner of the German goal. Japan led 1-0.
Germany created a counter-goal less than 10 minutes later. Leroy Sane levelled the score at 1-1. Ilkay Guendogan's partnership with Florian Wirtz was completed by Sane with a left-footed flat shot.
Japan immediately responded. Ayase Ueda restored Japan's lead to 2-1 in the 22nd minute.
Ito sent a crossing from the right wing and was intercepted by Ueda at close range. The ball had hit Antonio Ruediger's foot and then turned, making Marc-Andre ter Stegen deadsteps before nestling in the German goal.
A blunder at the end of the first half made Germany almost concede. Fortunately, Ter Stegen made a brilliant save.
Nicolas Schlotterbeck's pass to Ruediger was cut out by Ueda. He dribbled directly forward to be in a one-on-one situation with Ter Stegen, but his pass was brushed off.
Just after the second-half kickoff, Germany again almost conceded. Ter Stegen's pass instead went to Junya Ito on the edge of the penalty area. Ito made a stab before curling a shot into the top corner of the goal, but the ball went wide.
Afterwards, Ter Stegen parried Ueda's kick. The rebound ball was intercepted by Kaoru Mitoma even though his shot was still narrowly off the near post of the German goal.
The Japanese counterattack troubled the Germans. Takuma Asano led the charge from the left side and then fired a cross. Ter Stegen repelled, and the rebound ball was passed by Mitoma and again secured.
Japan sealed the victory with two goals late in the game. Asano scored Japan's third goal to make it 3-1.
Robin Gosens failed to sweep the ball so it was seized by Takefusa Kubo to be led forward. In a 2-on-1 situation, Kubo thrust the ball to Asano, who easily outwitted Ter Stegen with a flat shot.
In injury time, Ter Stegen had to pick up the ball from his net for the fourth time. Ao Tanaka etched his name on the scoreboard and made it 4-1.
Starting from a throw-in on the right side, Asano's pass to Kubo was continued with an attack from the wing. Kubo fired a cross into the middle of the penalty city, then Tanaka finished with an accurate header.
"Germany vs. Japan" line-up
GERMANY: Ter Stegen, Ruediger, Suele, Schlotterbeck (Gosens 64'), Kimmich, Guendogan, Emre Can (Gross 64'), Sane, Wirtz (Brandt 73'), Gnabry (Schade 81'), Havertz (Mueller 73')
JAPAN: Osako, Itakura, Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Sugawara (Hashioka 84'), Endo, Kamada (Taniguchi 59', Mitoma (Doan 84'), Morita (Tanaka 75'), Junya Ito (Kubo 75'), Ueda (Asano 59')