SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) began their final round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers (Road to Russia) with a 2-1 defeat against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Thursday 1 September despite AC Milan forward HONDA Keisuke's early opening goal in the first half.
Japan opened the scoring. In the 10th minute, defender SAKAI Hiroki (Olympique de Marseille/ France) earned a free kick after showing several overlapping moves on the right flank. One minute later, Honda hammered Kiyotake's free kick with his header at the far post after sneaking into the space behind the defenders.
Yet in the 20th minute, the UAE got back on level terms when forward AHMED KHALIL directly drove home a free kick.....
EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
NEWS / RELEASE
10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] SAMURAI BLUE begin final qualifying round with defeat against UAE
+
10passion
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-19 Japan National Team post 3-0 win over France in international friendly](https://image.eaff.com/index/3416.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [HONG KONG FA] Updates about International Friendly – Hong Kong vs Turkmenistan (6 Sept)](https://image.eaff.com/index/3414.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) squad, schedule - ASIAN QUALIFIERS - ROAD TO RUSSIA vs. UAE (9/1@Saitama Stadium 2002), vs. Thailand (9/6@Rajamangala Stadium)](https://image.eaff.com/index/3413.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Suqad for the final round of AFC Worldcup qualifying confirmed](https://image.eaff.com/index/3412.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [HONG KONG FA] The 11th Chairman of Korea U-15 Football League & Governor of Gyeongsangbukdo Cup International Football Tournament](https://image.eaff.com/index/3410.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-17 Japan National Team’s 3rd match in 23rd International Youth Tournament of Václav Ježek against UAE](https://image.eaff.com/index/3409.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-17 Japan National Team’s 2nd game against U-17 Czech Republic in 23rd International Youth Tournament of Václav Ježek 2016](https://image.eaff.com/index/3408.jpg)