With the fitness of striking partner Musashi Suzuki still uncertain, all eyes will be on Yuya Kubo to deliver when Japan's Under-23 side takes on Iran on Friday in the quarterfinal of the Under-23 Asian Championship.
"It's important to be on the pitch at crucial moments in games, and leave marks," said the 22-year-old Young Boys forward, who chipped in with a brace against Thailand in the 4-0 win in the second game of the group stage where Japan claimed three wins out of three.
"It's an all-or-nothing tie and there's that pressure of being out once you lose," said Kubo, who is aware that in addition to Suzuki, nursing inflammation to his right leg, speedster Takuma Asano's effectiveness coming off the bench and Ado Onaiu's two-day rest from the final group-stage game could leave him fielded out as his side's only striker.