Japan put on a dominating display against Mongolia on Tuesday night in Chiba, netting five goals in the first half and nine in the second on the way to a 14-0 win that all but guaranteed advancement to the next round of World Cup qualifying.
Due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions preventing the game from being held in Mongolia, the game took place behind closed doors at Fukuda Denshi Arena, with Japan designated as the away team.
The unusual setting proved to be of little concern to Hajime Moriyasu’s men, who found their way onto the scoreboard through Takumi Minamino’s 13th-minute grounder and were rarely troubled by Mongolia’s spirited attempts to press forward on the attack.