Japan 7-0 China PR: Endo and Mitoma on target in emphatic triumph

Japan kickstarted their 2026 World Cup qualifying third-round campaign with an emphatic 7-0 victory over China PR at Saitama Stadium.

Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma got themselves on the scoresheet to hand the hosts a comfortable two-goal advantage at half-time.

But Hajime Moriyasu’s side turned on the style after the break, with a brace from Takumi Minamino followed up with goals from Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo.

The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute as Endo headed home Kubo’s inviting corner-kick, with Mitoma adding Japan’s second two minutes into time added on.

Minamino struck twice in six minutes shortly after the break, with Ito then netting his second goal in three appearances against China in the World Cup qualifiers.

The Reims attacker would turn provider for Japan’s final two finishes, first teeing up Maeda before picking out Kubo, who rifled the ball beyond Wang Dalei.

1 – 日本代表はワールドカップ予選での中国戦では2試合連続被シュート1本（被枠内シュート0本）。5日の中国の敵陣ペナルティエリア内タッチ数は1回。圧倒。#SAMURAIBLUE #jfa #daihyo #サッカー日本代表 pic.twitter.com/wdEGGCINlw

— OptaJiro (@OptaJiro) September 5, 2024

Data Debrief: Samurai Blue show China the sword

Japan have now restricted their opponents to just one shot (none on target) in two consecutive matches in the World Cup qualifiers, with China registering an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.03.

Moriyasu’s side dominated the contest from start to finish, accumulating 102 final-third entries to China’s 33, also recording 33 touches in the opposition’s box compared to their opponents’ one.

Kubo and Minamino were the pick of the bunch for Japan, recording the joint-most shots (four) and shots on target (two).