AFC Asian Qualifiers
Ueda put the Japanese ahead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute before doubling the advantage two minutes into the second half while two further goals in three minutes from Morita ensured the points were safe for the Samurai Blue.
Japan have scored 12 times in their first two games having won 7-0 against China PR in their opening match on Thursday and sit on top of Group C, two points clear of second-placed Saudi Arabia. Bahrain remain on three points after their opening win over Australia on the Gold Coast last week.
Moriyasu made only one change to the side that started the demolition of the Chinese at Saitama Stadium with Takefusa Kubo making way for Daichi Kamada, and it was the Crystal Palace attacker who had a key role in Japan’s opening goal.
Wataru Endo played the former Eintracht Frankfurt and Lazio man into the penalty area with a perfectly weighted ball and Kamada’s attempt to cut the ball back hit Abdullah Al Khalsai on the arm, referee Rustam Lutfullin did not hesitating to point to the spot.
Ueda coolly stuck the ball into the goalkeeper’s bottom right corner, scoring despite Ebrahim Lutfalla guessing the right way.
The goal came late in a half in which Japan had the better of the limited opportunities as the heat and humidity saw both teams measure their efforts.
Ritsu Doan looked set to put the visitors in front in the ninth minute when Kaoru Mitoma’s searching ball from the left found the winger in space behind the Bahrain defence on the far side of the six yard box, but his attempt somehow came back off the post.
Two minutes later Zion Suzuki was force to take action at the other end, tipping Komail Al Aswad’s header away for a corner.
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It only took the Japanese two minutes after the interval to double their lead as half-time substitute Junya Ito unlocked the home side’s backline.
Kamada slipped the ball into the path of the advancing Ito down the right side and his cut back found Ueda, who had the time to dig the ball out from under his feet and thump a clinical finish beyond Lutfalla.
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Kamada and Ito threatened to add a third for Japan but it was Morita who struck, finishing off an incisive one-two with Ueda to beat Lutfalla in the 61st minute, and the Sporting midfielder struck again three minutes later when he tapped in Mitoma’s inviting low cross.
Koki Ogawa nodded in the fifth from close range with nine minutes remaining as the Japanese underlined the difference between the teams.
