Football: Ogawa brace sends Japan past China in World Cup qualifying

Koki Ogawa scored on a pair of headers as Japan took another step toward the 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 win away to China that left the visitors firmly in control of Group C in the Asian final-round qualifiers.

After a difficult opening half hour against a defense-minded China at Xiamen Egret Stadium, Japan began to find space in the attacking third, largely through the tireless work of Takefusa Kubo in the middle and Junya Ito on the right.

Japan improved to 16 points from five wins and one draw in the six-team group from which two will advance to the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Japan are now in a position to qualify as early as March 20, when they host Bahrain.

Kubo set up Japan’s first goal by rifling in a speculative shot and then kicking the corner Ogawa headed home through a crowd of defenders in the 39th minute.

“It was such tough going at the start, so I’m glad I could contribute to the first goal that I thought might be the key to this game,” Ogawa said. “I got a great ball in the box. I always trust my teammates will deliver those.”

Japan (blue) and China play their 2026 World Cup football qualifier in Xiamen, China, on Nov. 19, 2024. (Kyodo)

Japan added their second in first-half injury time when Ito’s corner was deflected to Ko Itakura, who dove to head it in.

China pulled one back three minutes after the break, when Lin Liangming buried his shot in a one-on-one with keeper Zion Suzuki after some superb play on and off the ball from midfielder Xie Wenneng set up the shot.

Japan restored their two-goal margin when Ogawa, lurking at the far post, headed in a 54th-minute Ito corner.