Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada hits double as Japan thrash Indonesia 6-0

Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada is challenged by Indonesia defender Yance Sayuri during their World Cup qualifier. PHOTO: AFP

UPDATED Jun 11, 2025, 12:59 AM

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OSAKA – Crystal Palace forward Daichi Kamada scored twice, as Japan rounded off their successful World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-0 hammering of Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia in Osaka on June 10.

Kamada, an FA Cup winner with English Premier League side Palace this season, struck twice in the first half as already-qualified Japan finished the campaign as Group C winners, scoring 30 goals in their 10 matches.

Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and substitute Mao Hosoya were also on target against Indonesia, who finished fourth in the group.

“This result was due to the players’ determination to improve their level by doing what they could to their best every day during training. The opponent also had some players down (injured), but it wasn’t that, but rather the efforts of my players, the determination that the players have that led to today’s result,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said.

“And I think it was good that the players broke out of their shells and tried to grow, not just by scoring one goal in the game, but by continuing to take the next goal and the next chance.”

Kluivert’s Indonesia, who were backed by a large travelling support, advance to a further round of play-offs with five other teams to decide two more Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Japan can look forward to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but Moriyasu insisted: “There is still a lot we need to learn, and both the players and the whole team need to improve. I think we need to improve in all areas.”

The coach has set the ambitious target of winning the World Cup.

The Samurai Blue will play friendlies against teams from outside Asia over the next 12 months and Kamada is looking to learn from the experience.

“Playing against Asian teams and against the kind of European teams who will be at the World Cup is totally different. As we play these games, we will start to see a lot of areas where we need to improve. We need to come together as a team and overcome these problems when they crop up,” said the 28-year-old.

Japan have already lined up away friendlies against Mexico and the US in September and will face four as yet unnamed opponents at home before the end of the year.

The Japanese lost their unbeaten qualifying record in a 1-0 defeat away to Australia last week, with Moriyasu fielding an experimental line-up with qualification already in the bag. He started with two more debutants against Indonesia, handing first caps to defender Junnosuke Suzuki and winger Shunsuke Mito.

Kamada opened the scoring in the 15th minute, heading home from a Mito cross. The Palace forward turned provider for his team’s second, combining with Kubo before the Real Sociedad man fired past Indonesia goalkeeper Emil Audero.

Indonesia lost defender Kevin Diks to injury midway through the first half and his replacement Yakob Sayuri lasted only 15 minutes before he also had to go off after a clash of heads.

Kamada scored Japan’s third on the stroke of half-time, waltzing through the Indonesia defence before tucking the ball over Audero.

Morishita volleyed home at the back post in the 55th minute for his first international goal. Machino and Hosoya also got on the score sheet as Japan continued to squeeze Indonesia until the final whistle.

Elsewhere in Group C, China’s Wang Yudong scored in stoppage time to clinch a 1-0 home win over Bahrain. The victory was insignificant, however, as the Chinese finished fifth – three points behind the Indonesians – having already failed to qualify for the 2026 Finals.

In Group B, leaders and already-qualified South Korea beat Kuwait 4-0 thanks to goals from Jeon Jin-woo, Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Lee Jae-sung. AFP

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