The win sees Iraq through to the knockout stages, while Japan drop to second in Group D. Also on the day, Indonesia beat Vietnam 1-0 to move up to third place. The top two teams from each group, plus the top four third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 16. With a place in the knockout stage on the line, Japan will play their third and final group match against Indonesia on Wednesday 24 January.
Playing in front of a crowd of 38,663 in a completely away atmosphere, Japan made two changes from their starting line-up against Vietnam, with ASANO Takuma (VfL Bochum) starting as the lone striker and KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad) starting at number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation. .....
🔹試合終了🔹️
— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) January 19, 2024
🏆AFC アジアカップ カタール 2023
⚔️グループステージ第2節
🇯🇵SAMURAI BLUE 1-2 イラク🇮🇶
⌚️20:30(🇯🇵)
🔗https://t.co/Tlg2676KCA#頂点そしてその先へ#夢への勇気を #SAMURAIBLUE#jfa #daihyo #サッカー日本代表#AsianCup2023 #アジアカップ2023 pic.twitter.com/37Wz8sK2J8