Late objectives by Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano gave Japan an unimaginable 2-1 comeback victory over Germany within the World Cup on Wednesday after the four-times champions had seemed to be cruising to victory by way of an Ilkay Guendogan penalty however paid a deadly value for lacking probabilities.
The shock consequence was a repeat of their 2018 World Cup nightmare when, as defending champions, they misplaced their opener to Mexico and, after one other defeat by South Korea, have been condemned to an extraordinary group-stage exit.
Germany regarded in whole command within the Group E conflict however, with every missed likelihood, left the door open for Japan, who confirmed nearly nothing in assault till a collection of substitutions injected some vitality within the second half.
Doan equalised within the 75th minute earlier than Asano confirmed pretty management and smashed the winner in from a good angle — inflicting an explosion of pleasure among the many Japan bench.
It was a turnaround that regarded scarcely plausible as Japan struggled to get any foothold for a lot of the recreation.
Germany’s early dominance was rewarded when Joshua Kimmich picked out David Raum in acres of area within the field and goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda clumsily introduced him down as he turned, with Guendogan dispatching the penalty within the 33rd minute.
Kai Havertz turned in what he thought was a second in first-half stoppage time and though the assistant referee was about the one particular person within the Khalifa Worldwide stadium to not discover he was a metre offside, VAR duly disallowed it.
There was initially little change to the sample within the second half as Jamal Musiala shot over after a penetrating run and Guendogan clipped a submit.
Gonda then made amends with 4 successive saves to disclaim Jonas Hofmann and Serge Gnabry, retaining his facet within the recreation.
Manuel Neuer, showing in his fourth World Cup, was additionally alert to save lots of from Hiroki Sakai and did properly once more quickly after to dam from Takumi Minamino, just for fellow substitute Doan to smash within the free ball.
Instantly buoyed, Japan pushed on and Asano confirmed nice power to carry down a excessive free kick and maintain off defender Nico Schlotterbeck and unbelievable approach to hammer the ball into the smallest of areas.
Germany launched all-out assault from then on, to no avail, and now face a probably must-win recreation subsequent in opposition to Spain.
Japan subsequent face Costa Rica and can already be dreaming of the final 16.
