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Japan beat Ghana in friendly to build World Cup momentum / Photo: © JIJI Press/AFP
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Japan beat Ghana in friendly to build World Cup momentum
Japan beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Ghana 2-0 in a home friendly on Friday to build momentum with just over half a year to go before next year's tournament.
Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan scored either side of half-time in Toyota to give Japan another win after beating Brazil for the first time in a friendly last month.
It was Ghana's first game since booking their place at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 1-0 win over Comoros last month.
Their midfielder Abu Francis left the game on a stretcher early in the second half with what looked like a serious ankle injury.
Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in Tokyo and they again looked impressive despite missing Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma through injury.
Liverpool's Wataru Endo had to be content with a place on the bench on his return to the squad after missing the Brazil game through injury.
Goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa took over from Zion Suzuki, who fractured a wrist and finger playing for Parma.
Japan opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Kaishu Sano found Minamino unmarked in the box and the Monaco attacker took a touch before sliding the ball into the net
Ghana had their first chance when Brandon Thomas-Asante, who has scored 10 goals for Coventry in the English Championship this season, shot wide of the post.
Francis was carried off after attempting to make a tackle on Japan's Ao Tanaka and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo also left the game early in the second half.
Doan doubled Japan's lead just before the hour mark when he got the ball wide in the box and cut inside before drilling home a left-foot finish.
Japan continue their World Cup preparations with a friendly against Bolivia in Tokyo on Tuesday, while Ghana play South Korea in Seoul.
L.Nguyen--SFF
