Japan made it two wins from two at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2025 Final Korea Republic on Saturday, defeating China PR 2-0 thanks to goals from Mao Hosoya and Henry Heroki Mochizuki.
The victory leaves the Samurai Blue in pole position to seal back-to-back titles in the competition for the first time, level on points with hosts Korea Republic but ahead with a superior goal difference of seven to five.
As well as handing FC TOKYO’s Yuto Nagatomo his first national team appearance for 950 days, coach Hajime Moriyasu also gave five players their full debuts in this game, and one of them, Yuto Tsunashima of 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE side Tokyo Verdy, almost got off to a dream start when he headed just wide from a corner in the seventh minute.
Japan did take the lead four minutes later though, thanks to a lethal finish from Hosoya.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Satoshi Tanaka played a crisp pass into the Kashiwa Reysol striker with his back to goal, and Hosoya took a terrific first touch to turn his man before firing clinically into the bottom corner.
Another debutant, Kashima Antlers goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa, did superbly to preserve Japan’s lead in the 17th minute, denying China captain Yuning Zhang after he broke through for a one-on-one.
Hosoya almost doubled Japan’s lead with a downward header that bounced just off target in the 28th minute, before Ryunosuke Sato of Fagiano Okayama saw an effort from a tight angle well saved by China goalkeeper Yan Junling one minute before half-time.
The Samurai Blue were celebrating another goal in the 64th minute, however, thanks to FC Machida Zelvia’s Mochizuki.
The right wing-back - starting for the first time after making his debut as a substitute in Japan’s opening win over Hong Kong, China - cut in from his flank and let fly with his left foot from just outside the area, and the ball fizzed into the net after taking a slight deflection.
Mochizuki’s FC Machida teammate Yuki Soma then drew a smart save from Yan Junling with a ferocious left-footed strike that looked destined for the top corner in the 84th minute, but that was to be as close as either side came to adding to the score and the contest finished 2-0.
Japan conclude their campaign against hosts Korea Republic in Yong-in on Tuesday, knowing that a draw will be enough for them to defend their crown.
