Japan defeated Germany 2-1 in another shock result at the World Cup on Wednesday as Takuma Asano’s 83rd-minute winner stunned the four-time champions.
In their World Cup Group E opener , Japan shocked Germany with goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano in the final 15 minutes.
Ilkay Gündogan had given Germany the lead with a first-half penalty. But Doan, who plays for the German team Freiburg, pounced on a rebound to equalize in the 76th minute after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blocked a shot from Takumi Minamino.
The frequency of Japan’s forays into the German half increased, leading to Doan’s equaliser and Asano’s outstanding finish eight minutes later.
It was the first time the two countries had competed against one another.
The defeat was the third in a row in the opening match of a major championship for Germany after a loss to Mexico at the 2018 World Cup, when they bowed out in the first round as champions, and to France at Euro 2020.