Germany vs. Japan final score, result: Takuma Asano’s late strike pulls off shock turnaround

Takuma Asano came off the bench to score a dramatic winning goal for Japan, who pulled off a 2022 World Cup shock by beating Germany 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The winger, who plays for VfL Bochum in the German Bundesliga, made a huge impact on a game that had seen Ilkay Gundogan give Germany the lead through a first-half penalty, before Japan substitute Ritsu Doan equalised 15 minutes from the end.

That gave Asano enough time to latch onto Ko Itakura’s long ball forward and execute a sublime piece of control – reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp for the Netherlands against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup – and score past Manuel Neuer to spark wild celebrations among the blue sections of the stadium.

Before the turnaround, the game had looked set to catapult Germany playmaker Jamal Musiala into the spotlight after the 19-year-old put on a superb display of skill in attack while Die Mannschaft led.

But the script was re-written by Japan’s super substitutes, and Samurai Blue have taken early control of Group E and with Spain next up for the Germans the pressure is well and truly on.

Sporting News was tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Germany vs. Japan at the 2022 World Cup. See below for complete results from the Group E match in Qatar.

MORE: Updated World Cup 2022 bracket

Germany vs. Japan final score

	1H	2H	Final
Germany	1	0	1
Japan	0	2	2

Goals:
GER — Ilkay Gundogan (33)

JAP — Ritsu Doan (74)

JAP — Takuma Asano (83)

Starting lineups:

Germany (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Neuer (GK) — 23. Schlotterbeck, 15. Sule, 2. Rudiger, 3. Raum — 6. Kimmich — 21. Gundogan, – 14. Musiala, 10. Gnabry, 13. Muller – 7. Havertz

Japan (4-3-3, right to left): 12. Gonda (GK) — 19. Sakai, 4. Itakura, 16. Yoshida, 5. Nagatomo — 7. Tanaka 6. Endo, 14. Ito — 15. Kamada 18. Kubo, 25. Maeda

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Germany vs. Japan live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

🇰🇷 0-2 vs. South Korea (2018)
🇯🇵 1-2 vs. Japan (2022)

😮 Germany have lost back-to-back #FIFAWorldCup games, and both to AFC opposition! pic.twitter.com/yFXxBfCKCm

— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) November 23, 2022

FULLTIME: Germany 1-2 Japan

JAPAN HAVE DONE IT! It’s a famous result for Samurai Blue, who have pulled off a thrilling comeback victory, while for Germany it’s a case of deja-vu as they lose yet another World Cup opening match.

90th min+5: Close from Leon Goretzka! The Germany substitute sends a fierce low drive agonisingly close but ultimately just wide of Japan’s goal. That could be Germany’s last chance as we enter the final moments of stoppage time.

90th min+2: Germany are about to lose their opening game of a World Cup finals tournament for the second consecutive time. The last time they lost a World Cup match after leading at halftime was 1978.

85th min: The goal came from a long ball forward that Takuma Asano controlled beautifully before beating Nico Schlotterbeck and scoring with a close-range, angled shot high into the net.

74′ Germany 1-0 Japan
83′ Germany 1-2 Japan

🚨 JAPAN WITH THE COMEBACK 🚨 pic.twitter.com/RDJthRTMB8

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 23, 2022

83rd min: JAPAN HAVE GOT ANOTHER! WHAT A FINISH FROM TAKUMA ASANO AND IT’S 2-1 TO SAMURAI BLUE!

Watch if you’re in Australia:

HEAR THE PLACE! JAPAN LEAD GERMANY! 🔊

74′ – Germany 1-0 Japan 😕
83′ – Germany 1-2 Japan 😱

Watch this cracker of a match LIVE right now on @SBS and @SBSOnDemand! 🇩🇪 🇯🇵

▶: https://t.co/FEH6WvEMjQ#SBSWorldCup #WeAllSpeakFootball pic.twitter.com/WEtgwkZRhO

— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) November 23, 2022

75th min: GOOOOOAAAALLLLL – JAPAN HAVE AN EQUALISER! Manuel Neuer could only parry Takumi Minamino’s angled shot into the path of substitute Ritsu Doan, who lashed the ball into the net with glee.

Watch Doan’s equaliser here if you’re in the US:

A closer look at Japan’s equalizer by Ritsu Doan 🔥🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/zifs4fAWN6

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 23, 2022

73rd min: INCREDIBLE SAVE! Manuel Neuer with a world-class save to keep Junya Ito from equalising, stretching out a hand to push the Reims winger’s attempt away and Hiroki Sakai could only blaze over from the rebound.

The Hand of GOAT 🐐#GER #FIFAWorldCup #GERJPN 1-0 pic.twitter.com/PMVhhF7uCc

— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 23, 2022

70th min: Double save from Shuichi Gonda! The Japan goalkeeper parried Serge Gnabry’s close-range header back into the Bayern Munich man’s path, but proved himself equal the subsequent Gnabry shot. Nail-biting stuff for Japan.

68th min: Antonio Rudiger makes a timely block to prevent Takuma Asano’s close range shot from getting anywhere near Manuel Neuer in the German goal, but Die Mannschaft are being made to work hard to preserve their lead now.

66th min: Takuma Asano has looked bright since he came on and his shot from a tight angle deflected wide, winning Japan a corner from which Ko Itakura had a headed attempt at goal that was blocked. Samurai Blue not giving up in their search for an equaliser.

59th min: The two best players of the match so far combine to create a great chance for Germany, with Jamal Musiala playing Ilkay Gundogan in for a lovely low shot that hit the outside of the post and went wide. 

56th min: Double substitution for Japan, with Kaoru Mitoma replacing Yuto Nagatomo and Takuma Asano coming on for Daizen Maeda. Samurai Blue still look dangerous in flashes, but perhaps the fresh legs will spur them on.

50th min: Jamal Musiala dances through the Japan defence and almost – almost – scores one of the goals of the tournament so far, sending his shot over the top when he had done all the hard work. Wonderful stuff from the 19-year-old winger.

Watch Musiala’s chance here if you’re in the UK:

Didn’t get the finish but it’s clear Jamal Musiala is a serious baller 🙌#ITVFootball | #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/L48XptQay2

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 23, 2022

47th min: Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is on for Japan as the second half gets underway, having replaced Takefusa Kubo, but it was Germany’s Serge Gnabry who claimed the first chance of the second half, firing over the crossbar from an acute angle inside the Japan box.

HALF-TIME: Germany 1-0 Japan

Germany are 1-0 up against Japan at the break at the Khalifa International Stadium where an Ilkay Gundogan penalty kick separates the two teams.

Die Mannschaft created the better chances of the opening period and almost doubled their lead when Kai Havertz poked home from an offside position just before the interval.

But Japan are still in the game and have looked dangerous on the break, with Junya Ito providing pace down the right wing and Daizen Maeda looking lively up top.

Germany are on course for victory, but they’re not blowing anyone away here.

45th min+4: Kai Havertz put the ball in the net at the end of a lovely passing move by Germany but, after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out for offside.

44th min: Jamal Musiala makes an inch of space for himself on the edge of the Japan box and fires a powerful shot just over the crossbar. Great skill from the Bayern Munich attacker – something this game could do with a bit more of after some tepid periods of play.

41st min: Japan have failed to muster much of a response after falling behind, and they are allowing Germany to calmly pass the ball around as they probe for a second goal before halftime, with Joshua Kimmich firing over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area.

32nd min: GOOOOOALLLL! Ilkay Gundogan slots the penalty calmly just to the left of the centre of the net after David Raum was felled in the box by Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda. It gives Germany a lead they just about deserve on the balance of play here.

Watch the goal here if you are in the US:

GERMANY SCORES ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP 🇩🇪

Too easy for İlkay Gündoğan 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ew1fDKQnLa

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 23, 2022

31st min: PENALTY TO GERMANY!

29th min: Ilkay Gundogan squanders two chances! The first he fired straight at Shuichi Gonda from just outside the box, and the Manchester City man then started a move than ended with him being presented with a shooting opportunity inside the box, but his attempt was deflected wide.

27th min: Every time Germany get near Japan’s penalty area there are seven or eight blue shirts ahead of them. Kai Havertz is supposed to be playing as a lone striker but he’s being given no room in which to operate.

20th min: Germany are creating chances now, with Joshua Kimmich testing Shuichi Gonda from just outside the box, but Japan are still finding room in behind Die Mannschaft’s shaky looking rearguard. Tricky to predict which way the opening goal might go here.

16th min: CHANCE! Antonio Rudiger heads narrowly wide from Joshua Kimmich’s corner, and the Real Madrid defender really should have done better there as Germany carved out their first real opening of the match.

Watch the chance here if you’re in the US:

Rüdiger gets a look at goal but it’s off target 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/Ht28UUMbik

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 23, 2022

12th min: The atmosphere has fallen strangely quiet as Germany start to dominate the ball here. Die Mannschaft need to settle into this game after almost being undone in the first 10 minutes, but they’re struggling to penetrate a compact Japan defence.

Japan had the ball in the back of the net. But, Daizen Mazda is offside.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/WUPKU6M8ar

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 23, 2022

8th min: Japan have the ball in the net but it’s ruled out for offside. Ilkay Gundogan was caught in possession in the centre circle and Japan broke through Junya Ito, but Daizen Maeda was offside as he slid in to score.

6th min: The Japan fans have brought a drum and are happily pounding away on it as the two teams get their bearings in this Group E opener. They’ll hope their team can find some rhythm.

1st min: We’re underway here as Germany look to avoid another group stage exit at a World Cup finals – they were dumped out in the group stage for the first time ever at the 2018 World Cup.

2 mins from kickoff: The Germany players let their feelings be known in the team photo after they were banned from wearing the OneLove armband at the 2022 World Cup.

Germany’s team photo after not being allowed to wear the One Love armband… 🫢 pic.twitter.com/pzLVPbPso0

— 90min (@90min_Football) November 23, 2022

5 mins from kickoff: The players are walking out at the Khalifa International Stadium. There’s a rowdy atmosphere and a pinkish-coloured afternoon light hitting the stands. We could be in for a treat here.

10 mins from kickoff: Japan have every reason to be confident heading into this game, having won 15 of their 18 matches in qualifying, by an aggregate scoreline of 58-6.

However, they are up against the World Cup’s record active goalscorer in Germany forward Thomas Muller, who has scored 10 goals in finals tournaments – the joint-eighth most in history.

20 mins from kickoff: Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scored in two of his last four appearances for Germany, finding the net in UEFA Nations League matches against England and Italy.

He’ll be hoping to boss the midfield and get Germany off to a winning start after they lost 1-0 to Mexico in their opener at the 2018 World Cup.

… and so it begins … 🏆⚽🇩🇪 #WorldCup2022 #excited pic.twitter.com/hUppFiMrTB

— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) November 14, 2022

30 mins from kickoff: The Khalifa International Stadium is the venue for Germany vs Japan. The stadium has a capacity of 45,857 and it has been Qatar’s principal football arena since 1976.

Eight goals were shared here between England and Iran on Monday in a 6-2 victory for the Three Lions. Will we enjoy another glut of goals today?

All set at the Khalifa International Stadium ⚽#GER #FIFAWorldCup #GERJPN pic.twitter.com/SiAmRaoeIC

— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 23, 2022

40 mins from kickoff: Japan’s starting 11 has been confirmed and there is no place for Monaco attacker Takumi Minamino. Wataru Endo starts in midfield for Samurai Blue, who have Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Kaoru Mitoma on the bench.

#SAMURAIBLUE
LINE-UP📝#権田修一(GK)#板倉滉#長友佑都#遠藤航#久保建英#伊東純也#鎌田大地#田中碧#酒井宏樹#吉田麻也(C)#前田大然

🏆FIFA #ワールドカップ 第1節
🆚ドイツ🇩🇪
⌚️22:00KO
📺#ABEMA / #NHK
🔗https://t.co/lkrlviN8kI#サッカー日本代表#つな超え #新しい景色を2022 pic.twitter.com/Li2hEoVRAr

— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 【11.17(木)】vs 🇨🇦【11.23(水)】vs 🇩🇪 (@jfa_samuraiblue) November 23, 2022

50 mins from kickoff: The Germany team news is in and Die Mannschaft will line up with Thomas Muller and Kai Havertz in a dangerous looking four-man attack.

There is a World Cup finals debut for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, too.

Let’s go! So starten wir in die #WM2022. 👇🤩#GER #GERJPN pic.twitter.com/5cKbD4uNmt

— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) November 23, 2022

1.5 hrs from kickoff: Group E is expected to be a close-run contest, with Spain narrow favourites ahead of Germany to qualify in first place.

We’ve looked at the odds to see how the bookmakers view Germany and Japan’s chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Group E! Your #FIFAWorldCup journey begins NOW 🇩🇪 🇯🇵 🇪🇸 🇨🇷 #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/3MAZw643Xt

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022

2 hrs from kickoff: Japan are unbeaten in three competitive fixtures, scoring nine times without reply.

2.5 hrs from kickoff: Germany have drawn five of their last eight matches, winning twice.

3 hrs from kickoff: It turns out Japan’s manager Hajima Moriyasu also has plenty of compliments to pay his opponents 

Moryiasu said: “They are role modes for us – and this has never changed. Playing against Germany brings about mixed feelings for us.

“We are very grateful to German football. We are developing and learning from them.

“We have seven players in the Bundesliga. They are playing with, or against, top players. I believe we can confidently show what we have learnt from them.”

3.5 hrs from kickoff: There’s no doubt about it, Germany are the heavy favourites for this one. But head coach Hansi Flick believes there’s plenty of talent in Japan’s side that will cause his team “quite the challenge.”

“If you look at the quality in Germany, in the Bundesliga, (Daichi) Kamada does a great job, (Wataru) Endo has been one of the best midfielders in recent years,” he said.

“I think, yes, we have quite the challenge ahead of us tomorrow and that is why we tried to prepare as well as we could and I am looking forward to it.”

4 hrs from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of Germany vs. Japan! The four-time world champions will be hoping to start their tournament off with a bang… and not end up like Argentina.

Joshua Kimmich, the complete midfielder 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/FGYGA9AM5x

— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 20, 2022

Germany vs. Japan lineups, team news

With Leroy Sane out of the opener due to a knee injury, Hansi Flick has combined Thomas Muller and Kai Havertz as part of his attack.

Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, 22, starts in defence in his first senior appearance at a finals tournament.

Germany (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Neuer (GK) — 23. Schlotterbeck, 15. Sule, 2. Rudiger, 3. Raum — 6. Kimmich, 21. Gundogan — 14. Musiala, 10. Gnabry, 13. Muller – 7. Havertz

Wataru Endo returns to action for Japan but there is no place in the starting lineup for Monaco attacker Takumi Minamino or Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, who was thought to have recovered from an injury he suffered shortly before the start of the finals.

Midfielder Hidemasa Morita is not risked having only just overcome a calf problem, meaning Gaku Shibasaki is among the substitutes instead.

Japan (4-3-3, right to left): 12. Gonda (GK) — 19. Sakai, 4. Itakura, 16. Yoshida, 5. Nagatomo — 7. Tanaka 6. Endo, 14. Ito — 15. Kamada 18. Kubo, 10. Maeda

Germany vs. Japan live stream, TV channel

Here’s how you can watch all the action in the major global territories.

	Date	Time	TV Channel	Streaming
USA	Wed, Nov. 23	08:00 ET	FS1, Telemundo	fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app, Telemundo Deportes site/app, Peacock
Canada	Wed, Nov. 23	08:00 EST	TSN, RDS (French)	TSN site/app
UK	Wed, Nov. 23	13:00 GMT	ITV 1, STV (Scotland)	ITV Hub / ITVX, STV Player (Scotland)
Australia	Thu, Nov. 24	00:00 AEDT	SBS	SBS On Demand
India	Wed, Nov. 23	18:30 IST	Sports18	Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong	Wed, Nov. 23	21:00 HKT	Now TV (Ch. 616, 618)	Now TV
Malaysia	Wed, Nov. 23	21:00 MYT	Astro	Astro GO
Singapore	Wed, Nov. 23	21:00 SGT	StarHub (Ch. 251/252), Singtel TV	Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand	Thu, Nov. 24	02:00 NZDT	Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports	Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

Watch the match on fuboTV in USA