Portugal 1-2 Japan - Lessons to be learned as Portugal finish 2nd in Group B at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup | OneFootball

Portugal will go into the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup round of 32 as the second placed team in Group B following a 2-1 defeat to Japan.

Bino Maçães’ side had beaten New Caledonia 6-1 and Morocco 6-0, but it was clear early on that another cakewalk against Japan was not going to be on the menu.

The Equipa das Quinas survived an early scare but didn’t heed the warning, Japan punishing errors as Takeshi Wada scored in the 35th minute and Taiga Seguchi made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.

Portugal were given a lifeline when Kaiji Chonan was sent off, Martim “Zeega” Guedes reducing the deficit in the 80th minute. Anísio Cabral went close to equalising but was denied by Shuji Muramatsu, Japan holding on to steal top spot.

Portugal second best

Japan exerted plenty of early pressure and fashioned the first chance following a loose pass from José Neto, Shimon Kobayashi’s shot turned wide by Romário Cunha.

Hiroto Asada curled an effort wide before Portugal produced their first shot in the 33rd minute. Steven Manuel combined well with José Neto and Mateus Mide but was off balance and kicked the ball into the ground.

Takeshi Wada on target

Japan’s opening goal came in the 35th minute when Romario Cunha's poor pass was picked off by Kaiji Chonan. He gave the ball to Takeshi Wada who played a 1-2 with Asada, rounded Ricardo Neto and found the bottom corner.

Portugal enjoyed their best spell of the game and it took just three minutes for Mide to fire a low drive into the net. The equaliser was ruled out for offside, Bino Maçães burning a video support review that clearly showed José Neto and Tomás Soares were offside and interfering with Shuji Muramatsu’s vision.

Taiga Seguchi extends the lead

Portugal's habit of giving away the ball in their own half resulted in Japan extending their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Daniel Banjaqui lost possession which led to another rapid piece of interplay, Daigo Hirashima finding Taiga Seguchi who saw his shot beat Cunha and go in off the post.

Bino Maçaes made two changes at the break, bringing on Bernardo Lima and Anísio Cabral for Miguel Figueiredo and Soares. Mide, who had received heavy strapping on his thigh, lasted less than five minutes into the second half before he was forced off and replaced by Martim “Zeega” Guedes.

The impressive Rafael Quintas won a free kick that he delivered into the box where Lima’s header was tipped over the bar by Muramatsu.

Japan manager Nozomi Hiroyama, who played for Braga in the 2002/03 season, replaced Kobayashi and Daigo Hirashima with Minato Yoshida and Jelani Ren McGhee.

Portugal maintained the pressure with Manuel’s header releasing João Aragão, the winger going for power and missing the target. Aragão immediately made way for Duarte Cunha.

The Equipa das Quinas were fortunate not to go 3-0 down when Japan took a free kick in the centre circle, Yoshida’s pass over Daniel Banjaqui and Ricardo Neto finding McGhee who was denied by Cunha.

Kaiji Chonan sent off

The game took a big turn in the 71st minute when Manuel took out Kaiji Chonan who kicked out at the Portuguese winger and was booked. Maçaes wisely used a video support review to summon Fernando Vejar Díaz to the touchline monitor, the referee watching replays and upgrading the yellow card to a straight red.

Seguchi made way for Shota Fujii and Mauro Furtado replaced Martim Chelmik.

Portugal were pushing forward which was leaving them vulnerable to counter attacks, Japan executing a fast break that resulted in Yoshida’s shot being saved by Cunha.

Zeega gets a goal back

The breakthrough finally came in the 80th minute when Furtado’s deep cross into the box wasn’t cleared by Yoshida. Asuto Fujita cleared Cabral’s header off the line but only as far as Zeega, the substitute seeing his shot deflect off Fujii and nestle in the net.

Furtado produced a fantastic pass to release Cunha who was denied by Muramatsu. Cabral and Zeega had efforts blocked, Cabral then sending a right footed shot towards the top corner where the goalkeeper made a great save.

The final opportunity fell for José Neto who couldn’t keep the ball down, Portugal unable to find an equaliser which means they advance to the Round of 32 as the second placed team in Group B.

Lessons to be learned

Portugal were given some harsh lessons about what can happen when you give the ball away in your own half. José Neto got away with a wayward pass early on, but Romario Cunha and Daniel Banjaqui were not so lucky as their losses of possession resulted in Japan’s goals.

Bino Maçães made three changes to the side that started in the 6-0 win against Morocco with Mauro Furtado, Bernardo Lima and Anísio Cabral making way for Martim Chelmik, Miguel Figueiredo and Tomás Soares.

A spot in the Round of 32 had already been assured, but the manager will be disappointed in the defeat which allowed Japan to steal top spot in Group B. It was the second defeat to Japan in two months after a 1-0 defeat to Nozomi Hiroyama’s side at the Limoges International Tournament in September.

The manager acknowledged the mistakes his side made in the first half, saying: “We knew it was going to be a difficult game, we had talked about it from the very beginning and had prepared the players for this mission. Japan was very aggressive in reacting to losing possession, and then we made some costly mistakes in the first half.”

“However, we completely controlled the second half and could have equalised, ultimately benefiting from the numerical advantage. Japan committed around eighteen fouls without receiving a single yellow card, which created several difficulties for us.”

Captain Rafael Quintas agreed and was pleased with the second half performance, saying: “We were expecting this performance from Japan, we know they are a very pressing team, they created many difficulties for us, even though we dominated possession, they managed to create two goals after two mistakes on our part in the build-up.”

“The second half was completely different, we made fewer mistakes, we pushed the Japanese team back and managed to score a very important goal, even though the second one didn't come, but I think we played well, that's football.”

“We made the build-up simpler in the second half, we managed to exploit the opponent's defense, and we were more successful in converting opportunities. We wanted to finish first, obviously, but we can face any opponent and we're ready for what's to come.”

Maçães is likely to bring Mauro Furtado, Bernardo Lima and Anísio Cabral back into his starting side for the Round of 32 clash on Friday 14 November. Their opponent will be decided on Tuesday when the group stage comes to a close.

It remains to be seen how severe Mateus Mide’s injury is and if the forward be able to recover in time.

Portugal 1-2 Japan Highlights

Line Up

Portugal (4-2-3-1) Romário Cunha; Daniel Banjaqui, Ricardo Neto, Martim Chelmik (Mauro Furtado 75’), José Neto; Rafael Quintas, Miguel Figueiredo (Bernardo Lima 46’); João Aragão (Duarte Cunha 65’), Mateus Mide (Martim “Zeega” Guedes 50’), Stevan Manuel (Yoan Pereira 46’); Tomás Soares (Anísio Cabral 46’)

Unused substitutes: Alexandre Tverdohlebov, David Rodrigues, Gabriel Dbouk, Yoan Pereira

Goals