Match Reports. Japan 2-1 Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan received their first defeat in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 as Japan came back from a goal behind to win White Wolves with a score of 2-1 in Al Ain and secure top spot in Group F.

Yoshinori Muto and Tsukasa Shiotani scored for Japan after Eldor Shomurodov had given Uzbekistan the lead and Hector Cuper’s side will now face Australia in the Round of 16 while the Japanese will face the Group E runners-up, either Saudi Arabia or Qatar.

Match Reports

Japan have qualified for the knockout stages of the Asian Cup for the eighth-successive time, last failing to secure progression in their first ever Asian Cup in 1988.

Uzbekistan scored seven goals in their three Asian Cup 2019 group stage games; only during the 2007 tournament have they scored more group stage goals (9).

Eldor Shomurodov has scored in all three of Uzbekistan’s Asian Cup 2019 group games – the only player at this year’s tournament to manage this so far.

Japan made 10 changes to their starting line-up against Uzbekistan – the most changes to a starting line-up for any Asian Cup match since 2011.

Uzbekistan have scored at least one goal in seven of their last eight matches in the Asian Cup, only failing to score against Korea Republic in a 2-0 defeat in 2015.

Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Japan have lost only one of their last 31 games at the Asian Cup (W20 D9), a 2-3 defeat against Saudi Arabia in the 2007 semi-finals.

Japan have won eight successive group stage matches in the Asian Cup for the first in the team’s history.

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