Japan, South Korea celebrate World Cup qualification with big wins
Crystal Palace forward Daichi Kamada scored twice for Japan and Paris Saint Germain's Lee Kang-in netted for South Korea as the Asian giants rounded off successful World Cup qualifying campaigns in style yesterday.
Japan romped to a 6-0 thrashing of Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia in Osaka, while South Korea cruised to a 4-0 win over Kuwait in Seoul where fans were treated to a late appearance by their idol Son Heung-min.
FA Cup winner Kamada struck twice in the first half for already qualified Japan, who finished as Group C winners.
Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and substitute Mao Hosoya were also on target against Indonesia, who came fourth in the group and moved on to a further qualifying round.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has set the ambitious target of winning next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His side will play friendlies against teams from outside Asia over the next 12 months and Kamada is looking to learn from the experience.
'Playing against Asian teams and against the kind of European teams who will be at the World Cup is totally different,' said the 28-year-old.
'As we play these games, we will start to see a lot of areas where we need to improve. We need to come together as a team and overcome these problems when they crop up.'
Moriyasu said his players need to keep improving 'in all departments' and praised their attitude against Indonesia.
'The challenge for the players is to break past their limits and grow,' he said.
Iran and Uzbekistan are already through to next year's finals from Group A and Jordan will finish second in Group B to South Korea, who secured qualification last week with a game to spare. Jeon Jin-woo, who plays in the K-League for Jeonbuk, gave South Korea a 1-0 half-time lead against Kuwait in Seoul.
The Koreans took control after the break with strikes from European-based trio Lee Kangin of PSG, Oh Hyeon-gyu of Belgium's Genk and Lee Jae-sung of German Club Mainz 05.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
8 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain Para Athletics Team Wins 7 Medals At Tunis International Meeting
Bahrain's para athletics team won seven medals at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, Tunis 2025, held from June 16 to 18, with over 500 athletes representing 61 countries. The team earned one gold, three silver, and three bronze medals. The delegation was led by Shaikh Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and included Noura Al Anzi (administrator), and coaches Ali Al Ghazal, Emad Murad, and Ahmed Mushaima. Ruba Al Omari delivered a standout performance, winning gold in the shot put (F55/F56) with a throw of 7.30m, the top Asian performance of the year 2025. She also secured silver in the discus (F55) with a personal and Asian record of 24.31m, and bronze in the javelin (F55) with another Asian best of 17.46m. Saad Mohamed set a personal best of 26.20m in the club throw (F32), while Nassar Al Muraisi won silver in the 200m (T54/T53/T51) and bronze in the 800m (T34/T53/T54). Ahmed Nooh won silver in the 400m (T53) and bronze in the 200m (T54/T53/T51), maintaining his strong international presence. These results reflect the growing success of para athletics in Bahrain and the support provided to athletes. Source Bahrain News Agency
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Daily Tribune
PSG stunned by Botafogo after Messi lights up Club World Cup
European champions Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat to Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday after Lionel Messi lit up the tournament with a brilliant free-kick winner for Inter Miami. Atletico Madrid and Palmeiras also won as the second round of group matches began, but it was Botafogo who stole the headlines. A first-half goal from Igor Jesus proved the difference as last year's Copa Libertadores winners all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds from Group B in front of 53,699 fans at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California. PSG are one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final. But their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side into the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro. 'A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is,' goalscorer Jesus said after the win, which kept all of South America's representatives unbeaten at the competition in the United States. 'It was a difficult game and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal.' Botafogo took the lead against the run of play on 36 minutes as Jefferson Savarino's through ball split the PSG defence and released Jesus. He then did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net. 'We knew it was going to be a very difficult match -- they defended very well,' said PSG coach Luis Enrique. 'This Club World Cup is very intense and difficult and all the teams are highly motivated, especially when they're playing against us.' Botafogo's win leaves them firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico to come on Monday. Atletico off the mark Atletico bounced back from a 4-0 loss to PSG as Diego Simeone's side beat Seattle Sounders 3-1. Pablo Barri - os scored twice, including an 11th-minute opener which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. Belgian Axel Witsel came off the bench at half time and almost immediately made it 2-0, nodding in from close range after a Marcos Llorente shot was tipped onto the woodwork. Albert Rusnak quickly pulled one back for Seattle, only for Barrios to score again for 3-1. Botafogo top Group B with six points, with PSG and Atletico each on three and Seattle facing probable elimination after two defeats. Earlier, Messi scored a trademark free-kick to secure a 2-1 comeback win for Inter Miami against Porto in Atlanta in Group A. The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a setpiece nine minutes after half time to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing. Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave Porto the lead and they had the better of the first half. But Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp. 'It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well,' Messi told broadcaster DAZN. 'It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it. 'You can see that we want to compete and today we competed against a really good European team.' Javier Mascher - ano's Inter Miami have four points from two games, meaning they are level atop the group with Palmeiras. The Brazilians beat Egypt's Al Ahly 2-0 at MetLife Stadium outside New York. A Wessam Abou Ali own goal gave Palmeiras a 49th-minute lead before Flaco Lopez doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. The match was then suspended in the 63rd minute because of a weather warning, with players and fans instructed to take shelter because of a nearby storm before the action eventually resumed. A draw between Inter Miami and Palmeiras on Monday will send both teams into the last 16.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Dortmund held by Fluminense
AFP | East Rutherford Borussia Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw by Fluminense at the Club World Cup on Tuesday, as Brazilian teams maintained their unbeaten record so far in the competition. Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Fluminense were the more dangerous team throughout the Group F game played at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, just outside New York City. However, Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel turned a Jhon Arias shot around the post in the first half, before Matheus Martinelli drilled an effort narrowly wide. Fluminense -- captained by 40-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea defender Thiago Silva -- were a threat on the break throughout and should have scored at the end of a counter midway into the second half, but Agustin Canobbio shot straight at Kobel. The Dortmund goalkeeper then produced a fine save low down to deny Everaldo as the match ended in stalemate. 'We saw it was a tough game as we expected. Fluminense is a top team, very ball-possession based,' Dortmund coach Niko Kovac told broadcaster DAZN. 'They played very good. We had some difficulties, especially in the first half. In the second half I would say it was better but overall it was a lucky point for us.' Fluminense qualified for the tournament by virtue of their triumph in the Copa Libertadores in 2023. Their performance against a European heavyweight, UEFA Champions League finalists last year, is further evidence that Brazilian teams can hope to make a real impact in FIFA's new-look competition.
