Wataru Endo played a pivotal role in the build-up to Japan’s first goal in their commanding 5-0 victory over Syria
Wataru Endo played a pivotal role in the build-up to Japan’s first goal in their commanding 5-0 victory over Syria during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
Even though the Blue Samurai had already secured their advancement to the next qualification round, they didn’t ease up, delivering a dominant performance in Hiroshima to conclude their group stage campaign with a flawless record and six clean sheets from six matches.
Liverpool’s Endo set the tone for Japan’s victory in the 13th minute by intercepting a stray ball in midfield. His crucial intervention sparked a sequence that saw Keito Nakamura deliver a precise cross, enabling Ayase Ueda to head home the opener.
Former Liverpool player Takumi Minamino capped off the scoring, while Endo was substituted shortly after the 60-minute mark, given a well-deserved rest by coach Hajime Moriyasu, having made significant contributions to Japan’s latest triumph.
You can watch Endo’s key interception leading to the first goal below, taken from TVer’s live broadcast and shared by @cxfootball on X:
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