Japan record second-biggest win in their history as Takumi Minamino and Co smash FOURTEEN past Mongolia to extend perfect record in World Cup qualifying
- Japan recorded the second biggest win ever as they hammered Mongolia 14-0
- Liverpool star Takumi Minamino was on the scoresheet, bagging the opener
- Japan’s victory is their biggest since a 15-0 win over the Philippines in 1967
- Hajime Moriyasu’s side perfect record is extended to five games this campaign
Japan recorded their second-biggest win in their history after Liverpool star Takumi Minamino opened the scoring in a 14-0 rout of Mongolia to extend their perfect World Cup qualifying record.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side bagged five goals in the first half before adding another nine in the second to complete the astonishing result against the sorry Mongolians, ranked 190th in the world.
Minamino, Yuya Osako, Daichi Kamada and Hidemasa Morita all scored in the opening 45 minutes, along with an own-goal from Mongolia defender Khash-Erdene Tuyaa.
Japan recorded their second-biggest win ever after hammering fourteen past Mongolia
Liverpool star Takumi Minamino, who is on loan at Southampton, opened the scoring for Japan
Hajime Moriyasu’s side scored five first half goals before adding nine more in the second half
Osako ended up with a hat trick, while Sho Inagaki, Junya Ito and Kyogo Furuhashi scored two goals each. Takuma Asano also scored in Chiba.
According to Opta, Tuesday’s victory is Japan’s second biggest winning margin in its footballing history, behind a 15-0 win over the Philippines in 1967.
The game had been scheduled to take place in Mongolia but was changed to Japan because of quarantining issues relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Asian Football Confederation decided this month to play all remaining Group F matches in Japan moving forwards.
Japan lead Group F with a flawless 15 points from five matches played. A victory over Myanmar in June will secure first place in the group and a spot in the third round of Asian qualifying.
The eight group winners and four best second-place teams will advance to the third round of qualifying, which is scheduled to start in September.
Mongolia cut dejected figures after being unable to stop the onslaught from their rivals
The minnows, ranked 190th in the world, played the game in Japan due to quarantine rules
Tuesday’s win is Japan’s biggest since they defeated the Philippines 15-0 back in 1967