Doan Ritsu (C) of Japan shoots during the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
DOHA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Japan came back from one goal down to claim a 2-1 victory over Spain and top Group E of the FIFA World Cup on Thursday.
Second-half goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka overturned Alvaro Morata's opener for Spain.
What can truly be described as a 'game of two halves' saw Spain dominate the first 45 minutes, before an incredible Japanese turnaround saw them score twice and then hang on at the end as Spain looked for an equalizer that would have taken themselves to the top of the group while knocking Japan out.
A nerve-wracking second half saw all four teams from the group in a qualifying spot at one moment or other, and for a nerve-shredding couple of minutes, even the Spanish faced an early exit.
Japan will face Croatia in the round of 16, while Spain face Morocco.
As things got underway two hours earlier, there was no indication of the drama that lay ahead.
Spain coach Luis Enrique made five changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Germany on Sunday, with Alejandro Balde, Nico Williams, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pau Torres and Morata coming into the side, while Shogo Taniguchi, Junya Ito, Tanaka, Takefusa Kubo and Daizen Maeda were in for Japan.
After a rare lapse from Sergio Busquets was nearly punished by Ito's shot into the side netting, Spain took total control, racking up around 80 percent of ball possession and leaving their rivals chasing shadows.
Morata scored his 30th international goal in 60 appearances with a neat header after Williams and Azpilicueta combined after 11 minutes, and forced a save from Shuichi Gonda after running onto Pedri's diagonal ball.
Spain continued to dominate with every possession lasting an average of over a minute and only Unai Simon's work with his feet causing pulse-rates to flutter.
It looked as if a Japan side that had seen just 14 percent of ball possession in the first half were going out with barely a whimper, but coach Hajime Moriyasu replaced Kubo and Yuto Nagatomo with Doan and Kaoru Mitoma, and turned the game on their head.
The subs made an instant impact, with Doan robbing Balde of possession and lashing in a left-footed shot past Simon to level the score in the 48th minute and then putting the ball across the goal in the 51st minute.
Mitoma just kept it in play and Tanaka scrambled home from close range, with the goal given after a long VAR check.
Suddenly Japan were a different side: fast and aggressive and causing Spain all sorts of problems, with Mitoma producing a great run and cross only for Takuma Asano to slip at a vital moment.
News of Costa Rica taking the lead against Germany which momentarily saw Spain eliminated, and Germany's subsequent equalizer flashed in quick succession, raising the tension to almost unbearable levels.
Gonda saved from Marco Asensio in the 88th minute, and as defense scrambled the loose ball clear, he then got down to save from Torres.
The seven minutes of extra time saw Spain camp on the edge of the Japan penalty area looking for a goal that would see them top the group and knock out Japan.
However, Japan held on for an incredible win and sent four-time winners Germany back home. ■
Ito Junya (2nd L) of Japan shoots during the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Maeda Daizen (L) of Japan vies with Sergio Busquets of Spain during their Group E match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Alvaro Morata (2nd R) of Spain scores during the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Alvaro Morata (front) of Spain shoots during the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Ito Junya (L) of Japan vies with Dani Olmo of Spain during their Group E match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Players of Japan celebrate after winning the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Itakura Kou (top) of Japan heads for the ball during the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Tomiyasu Takehiro (L) of Japan vies with Jordi Alba of Spain during their Group E match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Doan Ritsu (L) of Japan celebrates after scoring during the Group E match between Japan and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
