Following Japan's convincing 4-1 victory over Peru in a friendly match held in Osaka, head coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed his satisfaction and highlighted that the win could instill confidence in his players as they prepare for the Asian Cup, which is less than seven months away.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma played a key role in the victory, scoring a goal and assisting another. This triumph came on the heels of Japan's impressive 6-0 win against El Salvador.
With aspirations of securing a record fifth Asian title in Qatar in January, Moriyasu emphasized the importance of continuous improvement across all areas for his team. He urged the players to strive for progress and enhancements in their performance.
"Peru have a similar world ranking to us and they're a strong team in South America, so this was a good test for us," he said.
"Beating a good South American team like this gives us confidence and next time we get together we will be looking to improve even further."
Mitoma, who had an impressive debut season in the Premier League, scoring seven goals for Brighton, continued his form on the international stage. In the match against Peru, Mitoma found the back of the net in the first half, doubling Japan's lead after Hiroki Ito opened the scoring.
Wearing the number 7 jersey, Mitoma received the ball on the left side, skillfully maneuvered past a defender, and unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender, ultimately beating Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Not content with just scoring, Mitoma also played a key role in Japan's third goal by setting up Junya Ito. The team's success was further solidified by a goal from substitute Daizen Maeda, concluding a fruitful week for Japan on the football field.
"It was a bit of a miskick but that just shows it was worth taking the shot," Mitoma said of his goal, his seventh in 17 appearances for Japan.
"It was a good win and once we've had a break now that the season is finished, we'll keep going with the national team."
Christofer Gonzales grabbed a late consolation for Peru, who arrived in Osaka fresh from a 1-0 win over South Korea in Seoul.
Japan have three more friendlies to play before qualifying for the 2026 World Cup begins in November.
"We need to be able to function no matter who is on the pitch so we have to reflect on the goal that we conceded," said Moriyasu.
"But I think the score and the performance should give the players confidence in what we are doing."
(With AFP inputs)
