Japan 3-1 Bahrain: J.League sensation Maikuma help Samurai Blue cruise past the islanders to reach last eight for nine consecutive time

High pressings, neat breakthroughs, and the fire powers – Japan showed its own strength to reach the quarter-finals for the ninth tournament in a row. And a new rising star emerged in Seiya Maikuma, one of the only three domestic field players in the Japan squad.

Bahrain started the game resilient with the sturdy custodian Ebrahim Lutfallah superbly saving a close-range header from Ayase Ueda in the 10th minute. Japan maintained possession but struggled to break their stubborn defence until the half-hour mark, then Maikuma, the 26-year-old right back made a difference.

After a good-timed movement, the Cerezo Osaka attacking full-back received the ball unmarked in the midfield, approximately 25 yards from goal, to crack a thunderous screamer. The ball hit the left post and the right winger Ritsu Doan reacted swiftly to score the opener.

Hajime Moriyasu changed the sole starter from the last game against Indonesia to this match, from Koki Machida to Ko Itakura in the centre of its defence, and kept the attacking shape of 4-1-2-3. The space was made naturally on the right-hand side of the anchor Wataru Endo, where Maikuma exploited in the right moments, orchestrating his attackers in front as a playmaker.

Japan shifted it to the 4-4-2 system when they defended with Takefusa Kubo, an occasional number 10 as well as an inside midfielder, going up to chase the opponents as a first presser with Ueda. After completing the clean sheet at half-time, Japan started onslaught on Bahrain.

Ueda met the expectation from Moriyasu, who started him two matches in a row

At the beginning of the second half, Itakura had misfired a free header from an inch-perfect free kick from Kubo, who didn’t follow suit. Regaining the ball up in the pitch, the Real Sociedad’s lefty dribbled and passed it to the centre, and the ball came back for him to find the back of the net. Although it was initially disallowed for offside, the goal was finally approved by VAR, which showed the last ball was from Hazza Ali, not Ueda.

And after an hour mark, the Samurai Blue broke Bahrain completely with collective movements and neat short passes starting from Maikuma to Ueda, Hidemasa Morita, and Keito Nakamura dispatching a fine finish, only denied by an offside call.

The reason for failing again to record a clean sheet must be reviewed but Moriyasu said afterwards that it was a “positive mistake” because goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Ueda collided on the edge of their goal with bravery in the 64 minute, unfortunately led to concede a goal, sixth in four matches.

However, the Japanese didn’t lose their momentum partly because Kaoru Mitoma came on for the first time in this tournament. The Brighton and Hove Albion winger stole the show for some time, eagerly showcasing his exquisite dribbling skills. But for tonight, Maikuma shone more vividly.

After 70 minutes, the lively side-back received the ball from Itakura on the right and moved it by his feet to feed a through pass to Ueda, who made a magnificent turn to the goal, unleashing a powerful shot past between the legs of the goalkeeper.

“I credit Maikuma for his brilliant shot,” Doan said after the match. “We played as a team to win the game. We have to overcome tough games to win the tournament, which we are dying for.”

After the loss to Iraq, Japan has been improving for their ultimate goal, the fifth glory in Asia.