Japan 3-1 Indonesia: Blue Samurai reach Asian Cup last-16 with victory in group decider | OneFootball

Japan secured safe passage to the Asian Cup last-16 with a comfortable 3-1 win over Indonesia.

In a winner-takes-all match in Group D, Japan were too strong for Indonesia, and avoided a second upset in five days following their shock 2-1 defeat to group winners Iraq.

However, they could now meet South Korea in the next round if they top Group E tomorrow, while currently level on points with Jordan.

Indonesia now face a nervous wait to see whether their three points are enough to see them through as one of the tournament’s four best third-place teams.

Pipped to top spot by Iraq, who edged Vietnam with a 102nd-minute penalty on Wednesday, Japan made the perfect start when former Swansea City man Jordi Amat was penalised for a foul on Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda.

It was Ueda himself who stepped up and slammed the penalty home for an early Japan lead.

He scored early in the second half too, converting at the back post after Ritsu Doan’s square pass across the face of goal.

In stoppage time, Ueda was hunting his hat-trick, but centre-back Justin Hubner helped him out by diverting his shot into his own net via the crossbar.

The own goal gave Japan a 3-0 lead, but they didn’t keep it for long, with Sandy Walsh converting in stoppage time to give Indonesia a consolation goal and a goal-difference boost ahead of the group stage rounding off on Thursday.