Japan Gets 2 Late Goals to Upset Germany 2–1 at World Cup

Japan Gets 2 Late Goals to Upset Germany 2–1 at World Cup
Takuma Asano of Japan scores their team's second goal past Manuel Neuer of Germany during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23, 2022. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The Associated Press
Updated:

DOHA, Qatar—Another World Cup day, another World Cup shock.

Substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late goals Wednesday as Japan came from behind to upset Germany 2–1.

Both Doan and Asano play for German top-division clubs.

“I believe it’s a historic moment, a historic victory. If I think about the development of Japanese soccer, thinking of players, for them this was a big surprise,” said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, who had five Germany-based players in his starting lineup and three, including the scorers, on the bench.

“They’re fighting in a very strong, tough, prestigious league. They’ve been building up their strength. In that context we believe that those divisions (Bundesliga and second division) have been contributing to the development of Japanese players,” Moriyasu said. “I’m very grateful for that.”

Ilkay Gündogan had given four-time champion Germany the lead with a first-half penalty. But Doan, who plays for Freiburg, pounced on a rebound to equalize in the 76th minute after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blocked a shot from Takumi Minamino.

Germany's midfielder (21) Ilkay Gundogan scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Germany and Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23, 2022. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
Germany's midfielder (21) Ilkay Gundogan scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Germany and Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23, 2022. Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images
Japan players celebrate after Takuma Asano scored his side's second goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23, 2022. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo)
Japan players celebrate after Takuma Asano scored his side's second goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23, 2022. Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo

Then Asano, who plays for Bochum, sprinted clear of Nico Schlotterbeck and beat Neuer from a narrow angle in the 83rd minute of the first competitive meeting between the two nations.

They played two friendlies before, with Germany winning 3–0 in 2004 before a 2–2 draw between the teams in 2006.

Germany outplayed Japan for much of Wednesday’s match with 24 attempts on goal compared to Japan’s 11. Japan had just 24 percent possession for the whole game.

“It’s brutally disappointing, not only for the players, but also the coaching team,” said Germany coach Hansi Flick. “We deserved to go in front, it was more than deserved. Then you have to say that Japan gave us a lesson in efficiency.”

The match was played a day after Argentina’s 2–1 upset loss to Saudi Arabia.

It was only the third time Germany had lost its tournament-opening game after defeats against Algeria in 1982 and Mexico in 2018. In the other World Cup openers for Germany, the team had won 13 matches and drawn four.

Despite giving away the penalty for a clumsy challenge on left back David Raum, Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda made a string of saves and was player of the game.

“We fought as a team,” Gonda said. “We have to make sure we never stop.”

Japan next plays Costa Rica, while Germany faces Spain on Sunday.

Germany was hoping to restore lost pride after its shocking group-stage exit as defending champion in 2018, while Japan is appearing in its seventh straight World Cup and is looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.