Zion saves, all five score: Japan beats Ecuador on penalties and will face New Zealand in the Kirin Cup final

Ninety minutes, no goals, and a full house at Nissan Stadium holding its breath. Japan and Ecuador, both World Cup round-of-32 teams this summer, played a tight, physical 0-0 in the Kirin Cup semifinal in Yokohama on October 1, and the tournament rules sent it straight to penalties. That is where Zion Suzuki, back in goal after the side injury that kept him out of the Uruguay game, read Ecuador's third kick and pushed it away. Japan's takers did the rest: Ayase Ueda, Daichi Kamada, Junya Ito, Yuki Soma and Daizen Maeda, five for five, 5-4. Moriyasu credited the players' hunger to win and the staff's preparation, and said the World Cup-level intensity was exactly the kind of test this group needs. That is three wins from three since the new cycle began, per TBS. Next up is a trophy: New Zealand, who beat Panama on penalties earlier in the day, in the final at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Monday, October 5. Kickoff is 19:30 JST, which is 3:30am Pacific and 6:30am Eastern on Monday morning in the US. Set the alarm, Nation.

Source: Kyodo via Daily Sports

← All Nippon News