A Japan side full of 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE players started their EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2025 Final Korea Republic campaign in sensational form on Tuesday, defeating Hong Kong China 6-1 in their opening game at Yong-in Mireu Stadium.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Ryo Germain marked his national team debut with an incredible four goals in the rout, with Sho Inagaki of Nagoya Grampus and Germain’s Hiroshima teammate Sota Nakamura joining him in finding the net on his Samurai Blue bow.
It only took Germain four minutes to open the scoring, and he did so in some style. FC Machida Zelvia’s Yuki Soma crossed into the box from the left flank, and Germain did terrifically to control the ball on his chest before volleying home with his left foot.
The same two players combined again six minutes later, as captain Soma swung a deep cross to the back post for Germain to convert with his head.
Inagaki then got amongst the goals in the 20th minute, rifling home a trademark drive from just outside the area after the Hong Kong defenders failed to close him down.
Germain was celebrating his hat-trick just two minutes later, clinically converting a crisp left-footed strike from 18 yards after Kashiwa Reysol’s Yuki Kakita skilfully flicked the ball into his path.
Neither Japan nor Germain were done yet though, and the 30-year-old added his fourth and his side’s fifth in the 26th minute as he tucked the ball into the net from the edge of the six-yard box after Tojiro Kubo, also of Kashiwa, drilled a low ball into the penalty area from the right-hand side.
Japan took their foot off the gas a little after the break, and in the 59th minute Matt Orr pulled a goal back for Hong Kong, heading home at the back post after a corner made its way through to him.
Substitute Nakamura ensured Japan were the last ones on the scoresheet however, showing a combination of pace, trickery, strength, and then lethal finishing as he broke into the Hong Kong area and tucked in to make it 6-1 with essentially the last kick of the game in the third minute of injury time.
Japan’s next game in the competition comes on Saturday, when they return to Yong-in to square off against China.
