| Victory for Costa Rica | Mangalam

Doha: Japan held the ball for 56 percent of the time at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The Japanese players could not understand Costa Rica who came in tired after losing 7-0 to Spain. In the match, Japan fired 13 shots while Costa Rica fired four shots. Japan fired three shots onto the post. Costa Rica’s only shot on goal went past goalkeeper Sushi Gonda. Keiser Fuller’s goal fell in the 81st minute. Japan quickly filled the field with the same enthusiasm as they beat Germany in the previous match. They constantly rushed the ball into Costa Rica’s box.

Veteran goal keeper Keylor Nawaz and the lack of finishing were a setback for them. Many shots that ended up as goals ended in Navas. In the first half, Japan focused on possession. In the first half, neither team managed to get a single shot on the post. Japan began to attack in the second half. Attacking on the wings, Japan constantly tested Costa Rica with speed. They had to play rough to avoid the threat. The ball was in the Costa Rican box for most of the second half. Too many shots that made Japan look like they had scored. A mistake in the 81st minute from which Costa Rica “atom bombed” Japan. Yeltsin Tejeda lifted the ball into the box and Keiser Fuller took a fierce shot. Japan goalkeeper Gonda’s gloved Urasi into the net.

After conceding the goal, Japan stepped up its attack. Nawaz maintained the lead with several saves as Japan rallied in the final minutes. Japan equalized in the 88th minute. Daichi Kamada’s shot on goal is blocked by Brian Oviedo. Nawaz caught the ball in the box before the Japanese players ran away. If they had won, Japan would have reached the pre-quarters. Japan arrived with five changes from the team that defeated Germany. Right-back Miki Yamane replaced the injured Hiroki Sakai and Hidemasa Morita replaced Ao Tanaka.