Japan advance to AFC U-16 Championship quarter-finals

Japan’s progression was confirmed after Vietnam defeated Australia 3-2 in the group’s later match that day, with the runner-up’s slot in the quarter-finals up for grab for the Vietnamese and Kyrgyzstan who will both clash on Thursday.

After an even opening 30 minutes at the GMC Stadium, two-time champions Japan opened the scoring through Tanahashi before goals from Takefusa Kubo and Keito Nakamura increased the half-time advantage to three.

The second half brought more joy for Japan's forwards in a five-minute spell on 52 minutes as first Nakamura, then Tanahashi again and Toichi Suzuki increased the lead to six.

There was still time for Tanahashi to net his third in the final 10 minutes before Kubo scored his fourth of the tournament in injury time as Japan bettered their 7-0 win over Vietnam in their Group B opener to advance to the knockout phase with a game to spare.

Kyrgyzstan had in fact begun the match the brighter side and it was they who had the first effort on goal on five minutes as Aziret Momoshev slipped in Gulzhigit Borbubaev but the forward was forced too far wide and Kosei Tani was able to collect his eventual shot at the second attempt.

Momoshev also had an opportunity just before the quarter-hour mark as his free-kick from the left zipped wide of Tani's left-hand post, before he went closer still four minutes later with a shot inside the area that forced the Japan 'keeper into a low save to his left.

But with the match evenly poised it took an error to break the deadlock three minutes after the half hour.

Malik Aitbaev delayed his clearance too long allowing Tanahashi to charge it down and surge into the penalty area before smashing the ball past the exposed Elgard Sychev.