It is no longer a matter of comparison.
The Japan national football team, led by coach Hajime Moriyasu, defeated China 2-0 in the second match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship, held at Yongin Mir Stadium on the afternoon of the 12th.
With this victory, Japan recorded 2 wins (6 points) and matched the points with Korea, which also won the same day, but rose to the top due to a superior goal difference (+7) over Korea (+5).
The Korea-Japan match, scheduled for the 15th, has effectively become a knockout match for the championship.
On the other hand, China has become aware of reality after losing to Korea (0-3) and Japan (0-2).
Japan came out with a completely different lineup from the previous match against Hong Kong. A total of 11 players including Hara, Hosoya, Tawaratsumida, Tanaka, Uno, Sato, Nagatomo, Ueda, Tsunashima, Mochizuki, and Hayakawa started, operating in a 4-4-2 formation.
And Japan launched an offensive from the beginning. In the 10th minute of the first half, the first goal came like lightning. Hasada Mao, receiving a sharp forward pass from Tanaka, sliced through the defense and shot strongly toward the left side of the goal from outside the penalty box, shaking the Chinese net to take a 1-0 lead.
In the 17th minute of the first half, China's Zhang Yuning had a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, but was thwarted by Japan's goalkeeper Hayakawa's calm save, causing disappointment. Japan continued to press the attack comfortably. Hosoya's header and Sato's long-range shot followed, but no additional goals were scored. The first half ended with Japan leading 1-0.
In the second half, Japan's sharpness continued. In the 18th minute of the second half, Mochizuki, who received the ball on the right side of the box, curled in a left-footed shot that deflected off the Chinese defense, leading to a consolidation goal. It was practically a decisive goal for the match. Japan introduced Soma Yuki, and China made several substitutions, but could not change the flow of the game.
China raised its possession and launched a counterattack, but lacked decisiveness near the box. Despite bringing in Serginho for a final gamble, China ultimately failed to score. During the four minutes of added time in the second half, neither team scored any further goals, and the match concluded with Japan winning 2-0.
Thus, Japan surpassed Korea in goal difference to move to the top, and even if they draw in the final Korea-Japan match, they will win the championship trophy. In contrast, Korea needs a victory at all costs. Ultimately, the outcome of the match between Korea and Japan will be determined as expected in the third match. On the 15th, the fateful Korea-Japan match will decide the direction of the East Asian Cup championship.
Meanwhile, as expected, China suffered a complete defeat against Korea and Japan. Not only did they fail to register a single effective shot against Korea, but they also did nothing against Japan, leading to self-destruction. Peng Jian, a journalist who reported on the scene for China, attracted significant attention with a harsh critique of the Chinese national team.
Peng Jian emphasized on his social media, "At this point, it is realistically impossible for players from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia to aim for entry into the top five European leagues," adding, "Their top priority should be to play in the K League and J League. It is possible thanks to the ASEAN quota."
He continued, "Chinese players, like those from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, should not be talking about entering European leagues. They should aim to enter the K League and J League instead," noting, "The European stage is difficult, and it would be enough to aim for establishing a position in the Korean or Japanese leagues."
[OSEN]