TOKYO - Ritsu Doan scored the 71st-minute winner as Japan saw off New Zealand 2-1 to secure the Kirin Cup on Monday in manager Hajime Moriyasu's last game in charge on home soil.
The 17th-ranked Samurai Blue finished the four-match international window without a defeat and wrapped up on a positive note against a stubborn 86th-ranked New Zealand at MUFG Stadium in Tokyo, packed with a crowd of 61,812.
"It was a difficult battle against New Zealand, who are a good team playing in the World Cup," Moriyasu said. "The players who started tired the opponents and those who got the baton, capable of winning one-on-ones and unsettling them with interactions, did a good job."
Ayumu Seko, the only player to start all four games, partnered Hiroki Ito as Japan started with a back four and the hosts came close within the opening minute when Doan saw a stinging 25-meter drive tipped over by New Zealand keeper Alex Paulsen.
The playmaker again tested his luck from distance after a New Zealand player slipped in their half and drew another save from Paulsen from the edge of the box in the 10th minute before the visitors' first attack was cleared in the Japan box 10 minutes later.
Daizen Maeda showed his blistering pace before his cross was cleared by a desperate New Zealand defense, but Japan led in the 28th minute as right-back Shuto Nakano's cross was not dealt with, allowing Ayase Ueda to hit the ball on a bounce and in off the bar.
The visitors leveled four minutes later after Maeda's casual back pass inside the opposing half was picked up by Chris Wood, who carried the ball forward before laying it off for Ben Old to sweep past Zion Suzuki.
A dominant Japan had a chance three minutes after the break as Doan's cross-field pass found Maeda, who teed up Junnosuke Suzuki to find Ueda with a cross, but the forward's header at the back post cannoned off the bar.
A lively Takefusa Kubo set up Ueda but his shot flew over the bar before the playmaker made his way as part of a triple substitution in the 64th minute, with his replacement, Ao Tanaka, seeing his shot from 20 meters out superbly tipped over by Paulsen.
Japan finally found the breakthrough when substitute Keito Nakamura danced his way into the box down the left before his square ball was tapped home at the far post by Doan. Ueda had a goal chalked off for an offside minutes later but Japan saw the game out.
Earlier, Panama beat Ecuador 7-6 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw to finish third in the four-team tournament. Japan reached the final after beating the 25th-ranked Ecuador on penalties on Thursday, while they beat Uruguay and Venezuela in friendlies beforehand.
"It was a good ball from Keito and I just had to hit the target. I'm grateful for him," captain Doan said. "I hadn't scored for a while and I'm glad to be rewarded. We're preparing to win the Asian Cup and the four wins give us big confidence."
Moriyasu, who admitted feeling emotional seeing the packed home crowd for one last time, said he saw the development of his team especially in the way his players dealt with Nottingham Forest forward Wood.
"We were on the back foot a lot when we played him at the Tokyo Olympics," said Moriyasu, who was also in charge of Japan's U-23 team in 2021. "Time has passed and the Japanese defense was able to cope with the height and strength, while also becoming capable of launching attack from defense."
Japan play Brazil and Paraguay in Singapore in November before the Asian Cup, the last tournament for Moriyasu, starting next January in Saudi Arabia.
