AFC Futsal Asian Cup - Qualifiers - Group C: Macau 0-13 Japan; Cambodia 1-7 Tajikistan

Dushanbe: Four-time champions Japan were at their scintillating best as they brushed aside Macau 13-0 in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2026 Qualifiers Group C match on Monday.

Tied on six points with Japan are Tajikistan who defeated Cambodia 7-1, with the top two to meet in Wednesday’s decider.

Macau 0-13 Japan
Japan got off the mark inside the opening minute when Kentaro Ishida found Takehiro Motoishi at the back post for a tap in.

Macau goalkeeper So Ka Chon produced several stunning saves but could do nothing in the seventh minute when Yusei Arai #4 volleyed home Ryuji Izu's kick-in.

Shunta Uchida then made it 3-0 with a solo effort in the 14th minute before Shunta Uchimura's low shot found the net a minute later.

Japan went on to take a 6-0 lead into the break thanks to Arai's second of the game, chesting in Mitsuru Nakamura's cross in the 16th minute with Shoto Yamanaka sweeping home a rebound four minutes later.

Kensuke Takahara's side turned on the power in the second half to score seven more goals through Uchida (24th), Kokoro Harada (25th), Arai (26th, 27th, 35th), Yamanaka (29th) and Kazuya Shimizu (31st) to put them in a commanding position heading into their last match against Tajikistan on Wednesday.

Cambodia 1-7 Tajikistan
The opening minutes of the match provided a glimpse into the attacking intentions of both teams as Idris Yorov drew a flying save from Chim Sobotora before the Cambodia goalkeeper raced forward to fire a shot just wide.

Samandar Rizomov's wonderful curled free-kick in the fourth minute put Tajikistan ahead with Yorov's rasping drive four minutes later finding the bottom corner.

Cambodia's decision to take further risks by using the flying goalkeeper tactic came back to bite them in the 12th minute as Tajikistan forced an error that saw Nasratsho Ismoilov firing into a gaping goalmouth.

The Southeast Asian side pulled a goal back three minutes later when Keo Sochetra intercepted a pass inside his own half and drove forward before firing a shot that Firuz Bekmurodov got a hand to but not enough to keep the ball out.

Tajikistan, however, restored their three-goal advantage in the 18th minute when Umed Kuziev cleverly flicked home Nekruz Idiev's low drive into the penalty area.

The Central Asians piled on the pressure after the interval, adding three more goals through Muhamadjon Sharipov’s penalty (27th), Bekmurodov (35th) and Kuziez (39th) to take the points.

Qualifiers - Group C: Macau 0-13 Japan; Cambodia 1-7 Tajikistan

Qualifiers - MD2: Results & Reports

West Asia Wrap: Al Nassr, Al Ittihad stay perfect

Central & South Asia Wrap: Joy for Tractor, Sepasi in Iran; blues for Bhutan’s Paro

ASEAN Wrap: Svay Rieng, Buriram continue to sizzle

East Asia Wrap: Kashima go top in Japan; Gimcheon slice gap in Korea Republic