Japan sink Tajikistan after conceding first goal of World Cup qualifiers

TOKYO: Already-safe Japan conceded their first goal of World Cup qualifying but still recovered to beat Tajikistan 4-1 on Monday.
Japan, who were already assured of first place in Group F, took the lead against second-place Tajikistan through a sixth-minute goal from Kyogo Furuhashi.
But Ehsoni Panjshanbe headed in an equaliser three minutes later, breaching the Japanese defence for the first time in seven qualifiers.
Takumi Minamino put Japan back in front, extending his international scoring streak to a seventh straight game.
Goals from Kento Hashimoto and Hayao Kawabe then made the game safe for Japan, who have scored 41 goals in Group F with only one conceded.
Tajikistan retained second place after Kyrgyzstan lost 1-0 to Mongolia earlier in the day.
A 34th-minute Oyunbaataryn Mijiddorj goal gave last-place Mongolia the win, putting a dent in Kyrgyzstan's World Cup chances.
Virus regulations ruled all three of Kyrgyzstan's goalkeepers out of the match, forcing defender Aizar Akmatov to start between the posts.
Kyrgyzstan's three regular 'keepers, two other players and 14 staff members were deemed as close contacts of a player who tested positive for Covid-19.
The players and staff, who all tested negative six times before and after arriving in Group F host country Japan, were barred from involvement in the game.