Japan confident heading into Olympic soccer semifinal against Spain
After squeaking past New Zealand, the team appeared unfazed by the down-to-the-wire drama, because, at the end of the day, winning was the ultimate goal in the knockout stage.
After monumental win over Mexico, Japan sets sights on men's soccer medal
Sunday’s encounter at Saitama Stadium, where attacking midfielders Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan lit up the Mexican defense, has Japan eyeing the podium.
Japan takes Group A lead after downing Mexico with early burst
Early goals by Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan left the 2012 London champions struggling to fight back and put Japan in a strong position to advance to the knockout round.
Ritsu Doan to depart Arminia Bielefeld following end of loan
German top-flight side Arminia Bielefeld announced the departure Wednesday of Japan winger Ritsu Doan after a season-long loan from Dutch heavyweight PSV Eindhoven. The 22-year-old attacker, who is expected to play a major role for Japan at this summer's Tokyo Olympics, scored five goals for ...
Goals from Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan were among the highlights at Fukuoka's Best Denki Stadium as the team shook off Thursday's defeat to their Samurai Blue seniors with a resounding win.
Ritsu Doan and Masaya Okugawa struck a goal each Sunday to lead Arminia Bielefeld to a vital 2-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. The victory at Leverkusen's Bay Arena pulled Arminia out of the bottom three and up to 15th place as they ...
Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Ritsu Doan has been removed from the national team roster ahead of Japan's upcoming friendlies in Austria, the Japan Football Association said Saturday. Doan was named to the 24-man side by manager Hajime Moriyasu on Thursday, but his German club refused to ...
Musashi Suzuki nets brace in Beerschot's loss against Antwerp
Japan forward Musashi Suzuki scored a brace for Beerschot in a 3-2 derby defeat against Antwerp on Sunday, taking his season tally to four goals in the Belgian top flight. With his team behind 2-0 Suzuki, tapped in a low cross from the left in ...
Ritsu Doan nets first Bundesliga goal in Bielefeld's loss to Bayern
Midfielder Ritsu Doan opened his account for Arminia Bielefeld at home on Saturday and recorded his maiden goal in the German first division. Doan, who joined Arminia last month on a one-year loan from Dutch top-flight side PSV Eindhoven, pulled one back for the host ...
Japan winger Ritsu Doan is set to make a loan move from PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch first division to Bundesliga outfit Arminia Bielefeld, Dutch media reported Thursday. Doan sat out a PSV practice match the same day in order to complete transfer negotiations, according ...
Japanese athletes react to Olympic postponement
Some of Japan’s top athletes have expressed mixed feelings following Tuesday’s announcement that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee had agreed to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics for “about a year” amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Veteran female sport climber Akiyo ...
Midfielder Junya Ito bagged his first goal of the season for Genk in the Belgian top-flight side's 2-1 win at Cercle Brugge. Ito opened the scoring in the 34th minute at Jan Breydel Stadium before Cercle Brugge equalized in the second half. Sander Berge sealed ...
