Japan beat North Korea 1-0. The winner had to work for it: 1 from 12 shots. Best on the pitch was Ao Tanaka, rated 7.9.

1. 0'
   ⚽Kick-off
   World Cup Qualifiers — AFC
   JPN 4-4-2·4-4-2 PRK
   Coach: Hajime Moriyasu · Yong-Nam SinReferee: Adel Al Naqbi📍 New National Stadium
2. 1. First half
   2. 2'
      

      JPN
      GOOOAL!Ao TanakaAssist: R. Doan
   3. 20'
      

      PRK
      Yellow card
      Kuk-Chol Jang
3. 1. Second half
   2. 46'
      

      PRK
      Substitution
      ▲Ri Il-song▼Choe Ju-Song
   3. 46'
      

      PRK
      Substitution
      ▲Kang Kuk-Chol▼Ri Un-Chol
   4. 52'
      

      PRK
      Substitution
      ▲Choe Ok-Chol▼Kim Kyong-Sok
   5. 58'
      

      JPN
      Substitution
      ▲Wataru Endō▼Hidemasa Morita
   6. 60'
      

      JPN
      Yellow card
      H. Ito
   7. 68'
      

      PRK
      Substitution
      ▲Kim Kuk-Jin▼Jong Il-Gwan
   8. 73'
      

      PRK
      Yellow card
      Il-song Ri
   9. 74'
      

      JPN
      Substitution
      ▲S. Taniguchi▼Ritsu Dōan
   10. 74'
       

       JPN
       Substitution
       ▲D. Hashioka▼Y. Sugawara
   11. 74'
       

       JPN
       Substitution
       ▲Takuma Asano▼Takumi Minamino
   12. 75'
       

       PRK
       Yellow card
       Kuk Chol Kang
   13. 81'
       

       JPN
       Substitution
       ▲K. Ogawa▼Ayase Ueda
   14. 83'
       

       PRK
       Substitution
       ▲Mun In-Ju▼P. Kim