Doha: Japan advanced to the round of 16 of the World Cup on Thursday after defeating Spain with the same score as last week after defeating Germany in the team's opening match.
Despite the defeat, Spain continued on and eliminated Germany from the competition.
Early in the second half, Japan scored twice to come from behind to overcome another European superpower and go to the World Cup knockout round for the second time in a row. Japan has never progressed past the group stage in consecutive tournaments.
"For Asia and for Japan, our victories over Spain and Germany, two of the top teams in the world, is something that gives us great confidence and we are very pleased," Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. "Of course, there are many things we still have to learn, but Asia can win in the world stage, Japan can win in the world stage."
Early in the second half, Ao Tanaka scored the game-winning goal from close range. At Khalifa International Stadium, where Japan had stunned Germany in its opener, it took referees conducting video reviews almost two minutes to confirm the ball hadn't left the field before the goal.
When it was revealed that the goal was valid, players from both teams were surprised, and the Japanese began to sprint back toward their bench to join their colleagues in celebration.
"From my angle, I think the ball was clearly half out, but more than that I could not see because of the speed," Tanaka said. "I was concentrating on scoring. There was always a possibility that it was out ... But in the end, it was a goal, so that was great."
Japan will play Croatia after finishing first in Group E. Spain will face the winner of Group F, Morocco.
Spain and Germany each earned four points in the group after their simultaneous 4-2 victory over Costa Rica. However, Spain had a better goal differential.
Throughout both games, the group standings fluctuated. At one point, Costa Rica was beating Germany. Costa Rica would have eliminated Spain if that decision had stood, Associated Press reported.
Coach Luis Enrique of Spain claimed he was unaware that Costa Rica had been winning for a while.
"If I had known about it, I could have had a heart attack," he said.
Spain took the lead following lvaro Morata's goal in the eleventh minute, and the 2010 champions held that lead until Japan recovered after the break. With a left-footed shot from outside the box, Ritsu Doan equalised in the 48th, and Tanaka added the second three minutes later.
Spain "went into collapse mode," according to Luis Enrique.
"We totally lost control during those five minutes. We panicked," Luis Enrique said. "If they had to score more goals, they would have been able to do it. They got past us like an airplane."
Morata became the first Spanish player since Telmo Zarra in 1950 to score in all three of his country's opening World Cup games.
Prior to conceding late in a 1-1 draw with Germany, Spain had defeated Costa Rica 7-0 in the opening match.
Belgium eliminated Japan from the tournament in the round of 16 four years ago in Russia after it lost to Costa Rica in its second encounter. Japan has never advanced past the round of 16 in a World Cup.
Spain might avoid playing Argentina in the semifinals and Brazil in the quarterfinals if they place second in their group.
"There is nothing to celebrate," Luis Enrique said. "I'm not happy. We wanted to finish in first place with a victory."
The coach expressed surprise that VAR had verified Japan's second goal. He claimed to have seen a picture of the ball being out of bounds.
"That photo they showed me must have been altered," Luis Enrique said. "That's the only explanation."