Japan through to last 16 after thrilling win over Spain

An amazing turnaround saw Japan record a stunning 2-1 win over Spain to send Germany and Costa Rica spinning out of the 2022 World Cup - with a controversial matchwinner no doubt set to be one of the talking points of the tournament.

A goal to the good at the break through Alvaro Morata's header, La Roja saw their hopes of topping Group E go down in flames, as quickfire strikes from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka clinched a superb 2-1 win for the Samurai Blue. 

The Action: Spain entered the contest with the highest average possession share (74%) at this World Cup and unsurprisingly they quickly found their passing game - Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata already forcing a save from Japan keeper Shuichi Gonda before the same player gave La Roja the lead on 11 minutes.

Luis Enrique's side were rewarded for a sustained spell of pressure, in which the ball was moved from left to right before Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta swung in a killer ball that Morata gleefully buried with a close range header. 

The rest of the first half followed much the same pattern, with Spain ending the half having bossed 83% of the ball - Rodri (116) and Pau Torres (109) playing more passes than the entire Japan team combined (89). 

In the tome of most cliched football cliches, the term 'a game of two halves' is right up there with the absolutely knackered, but it was certainly applicable to this game as it turned on its head in the space of 142 seconds. 

First, some lax play at the back coughed up the ball to Japan in dangerous territory and the Samurai Blue made the Spanish pay a high price: sub Ritsu Doan flashing a shot in at Unai Simon's near post for a goal that the Spanish keeper will feel he should have done better with. 

The Japanese were completely revitalised and they soon took the lead after what will arguably be the most controversial goal of this World Cup.

Another substitute Kaoru Mitoma salvaged a ball that had flashed across goal, but his cross looked for all the world like it had left the field of play before it was bundled home by Ao Tanaka.

A long VAR check followed and after much nail-biting from the two sets of fans, the goal was incredibly awarded to give Japan a 2-1 lead. 

Definitely over the line. pic.twitter.com/CyXcggFpb6

— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 1, 2022

Japan knew that they would qualify as group winners if they held on to their lead regardless of what transpired in the other group game between Costa Rica and Germany, and they dug in - the remarkable contrast between their insipid first-half display and their heroic second 45 more pronounced by the minute. 

Spain's metronomic passing game was no longer as slick and assured as the game wore on, although Dani Olmo should really have done better with a gilt-edged chance in the last minute of normal time that he fired straight at Gonda.

After seven frantic and anxious minutes of added time, the referee Victor Gomes - who will no doubt come under close scrutiny given the nature of Japan's matchwinner - blew the final whistle to send the delirious contingent of fans in blue into raptures. 

Moment of the match: There's no doubt about this one, as it seems incredibly counterintuitive that Ao Tanaka's matchwinner for Japan was allowed to stand. Although sub Kaoru Mitoma did fantastically well to clip his cross back along Spain's goal line, there seemed little alternative than for ref Victor Gomes to rule the goal out as no part of the ball was in contact with the touchline. However, apparently because the curvature of the ball was in play, Gomes awarded the goal and Japan were in dreamland.

Man of the match: Ritsu Doan. Talk about a gamechanger! With Japan seemingly destined for death by 1000 passes, sub Doan entered the action and scored the Samurai Blue's first before charging down the Spanish right flank to cause the chaos that resulted in Tanaka's iconic winner. Electric at times, Doan underlined just how dangerous the Japanese have been at this World Cup when they've introduced players off the bench. 

xG: Japan (1.24) 2-1 (1.21) Spain

The outcome: Japan will play Croatia on Monday at 15.00 GMT in the last 16, while Spain will take on Morocco at the same time on Tuesday. Germany and Costa Rica go home.

Stat of the Day: Japan topped a World Cup group for only the second time in their history, matching the feat they managed back in 2002 in South Korea. That year the Samurai Blue lost 1-0 in the last 16 to Turkey.

Beat Germany.

Beat Spain.

This #SAMURAIBLUE team full of #JLEAGUE stars, past and present, has topped the group at the #FIFAWorldCup! pic.twitter.com/U6BSCbBpB6

— J.LEAGUE Official EN (@J_League_En) December 1, 2022