Two second half targets secured a sensational World Cup win for underdogs Japan
Simply over 24 hours after Saudi Arabia surprised Lionel Messi and Argentina, the FIFA World Cup in Qatar has supplied one other seismic shock as outsiders Japan scored two late targets to clinch a sensational 2-1 win in opposition to Germany on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium in Doha.
The Germans, who protested FIFA’s choice to ban the sporting of anti-discrimination armbands forward of kick-off, have been in management for giant spells of the sport and seemed to be on track for 3 factors within the Group E conflict when Manchester Metropolis’s Ilkay Gundogan coolly slotted house a penalty simply after the half-hour mark.
They missed a bunch of possibilities to increase their lead, together with forcing Japan’s goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda right into a improbable double-save from Serge Gnabry and Jonas Hofmann, earlier than substitute Ritsu Doan levelled the scoreline 15 minutes from time.
Eight minutes later, one other alternative, Takuma Asano, poked house from a decent angle to provide the 2002 World Cup hosts a shock lead.
For all their bluster, Germany was unable to interrupt down a cussed Japanese rearguard because the seconds ticked away, condemning Hansi Flick’s staff to an embarrassing reverse of their opening World Cup fixture.
The ultimate whistle prompted wild celebrations from a delirious Japanese squad in what is without doubt one of the best ends in the nation’s historical past.
Germany, four-time winners of the World Cup together with as lately as 2014 in Brazil, now faces an anxious wait to see if their subsequent two performances will earn them passage to the knockout stage.
They’ll face 2010 champions Spain in what’s now an important conflict on Sunday, understanding that one other defeat might all however condemn them to a second group stage exit in succession.
Germany was ousted on the opening stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia once they completed backside of their group, claiming only one win and two targets alongside the way in which.
Japan, in the meantime, will tackle Costa Rica in Sunday’s first kick-off with a win all however guaranteeing they are going to transfer to the Spherical of 16.