Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Japan further strengthened their push for a sixth straight FIFA World Cup finals appearance following a comprehensive 4-0 win over Group B's bottom side Thailand on Tuesday.
The hosts took the lead in the 8th minute at Saitama Stadium when Shinji Kagawa tucked home after a ball into the box by Yuya Kubo, and Kubo was again the provider in the 19th minute, this time crossing from the right for Shinji Okazaki to head in his 50th goal for Japan.
Kubo then found the net himself in the 57th minute, converting from the edge of the box, before Maya Yoshida headed home from a corner in the 83rd minute to complete the scoring.
Thailand could have pulled one back but Teerasil Dangda saw his late penalty saved by Eiji Kawashima, as the Southeast Asians' hopes of progressing from Group B were extinguished by a rampant Samurai Blue.