Japan have taken a decisive, colossal step towards the next stage of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying with a brutal one-sided 14-0 bludgeoning of Mongolia.
Yuya Osako scored a hat-trick, while Liverpool’s on-loan striker at Southampton, Takumi Minamino, was also among the scorers as Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu’s side made short work of the total demolition of the Mongolian minnows in Chiba.
The Group F win sees the Japanese squad advancing to the next phase of Asia’s qualifying tournament for the 2022 World Cup if they defeat Myanmar when the teams meet in Japan on June 3.
The eight group winners and four best second-place teams will advance to the third round of qualifying scheduled to start in September.
Playing in an empty Fukuda Denshi Arena after the Mongolians relinquished hosting rights due to strict quarantine regulations at home, the game was for the most part reduced to little more than a training exercise for the Japanese.
Minamino’s goal put them ahead after 13 minutes before Osako claimed his first 10 minutes later, slotting home after neatly turning the Mongolian defence.
Daichi Kamada brought the score to 3-0 in the 26th minute after deftly steering in a cross from Junya Ito, and Hidemasa Morita scored the fourth seven minutes later.
Khash Erdene Tuyaa’s own goal five minutes before the break rounded off a suffocating first half for the Mongolians, and the pressure continued in the second period, with Osako scoring his second 10 minutes after the restart with another composed finish, and substitute Sho Inagaki hit Japan’s seventh with 22 minutes remaining.
Junya Ito, Furuhashi and Ito all scored before a blizzard of late goals – including three in stoppage time – finished off the merciless carnage.