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Keysher Fuller scored against Japan to win Costa Rica
Photo:
RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP
After the opening win against Germany, the Japanese national soccer team has now suffered a defeat at the World Cup in Qatar.
The second group game against Costa Rica ended 0-1 (0-0), Keysher Fuller scored the decisive goal in the closing stages (81st minute).
In the Group E table, all teams except Germany now have three points.
For the DFB selection, the constellation means that even if they lose to Spain in the evening (8 p.m., TV: ZDF), they still have a chance of reaching the round of 16.
The Costa Ricans formed in a 5-4-1 with little gap between defense and midfield.
The Japanese could not break through against the defensive orientation, also because they risked little with the three points from the opening win behind them.
The most dangerous scene was an ambitious shot from outside of Joel Campbell from about 18 meters (15th minute), but neither team managed to get a shot on goal before the break.
Japan are good from the dressing room, Costa Rica scores
After the break, the Japanese tried harder to take the lead: Hidemasa Morita got his first shot on target after interacting with substitute Takuma Asano, Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas reached over well with his left hand and saved the attempt (46'). .
Shortly thereafter, Asano got dangerous with his head, but didn't put enough pressure behind the ball (48').
After a good hour, VfB Stuttgart professional Wataru Endo broke through in the middle, and the Japanese six-pointer was unfairly brought down at the edge of the penalty area.
Yuki Soma took the free kick that was due and got the ball over the wall, but missed the goal about two meters too high (63').
Another free kick was missed by Eintracht Frankfurt's Daichi Kamada with a shot into the wall (70').
Japan couldn't create better chances.
Costa Rica took advantage of this: After the Japanese lost the ball, the ball landed at Fuller, who flicked his left hand to the far corner from around 16 meters away.
Japan's keeper Shuichi Gonda was still on the ball, but couldn't prevent the 0:1 (81st).
It was Costa Rica's first shot on goal at the tournament.
The equalizer almost came, but Navas made an excellent save against Kamada (89').
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