Yes, I also named him my player of the first half. But I did not know then that Ayase Ueda would have more spectacular moments to come, after his strike into the top corner in the 31st minute!
The first was his lovely clipped ball through to free Junya Ito for Japan’s third, followed by a looping header that three different Tunisian players standing on the goal line — including the goalkeeper — could do nothing about.
Ueda is one of the easier choices we’ll have to make when it comes to selecting a player of the match in this World Cup. The Feyenoord striker was superb tonight!
