Japan beat All Whites 2-1 to win Kirin Cup

Japan beat New Zealand 2-1 to win the Kirin Cup at Tokyo's National Stadium. Ritsu Doan scored the winner from close range in the 71st minute.

Ayase Ueda gave Japan the lead after 28 minutes. Ben Old equalised four minutes later. 1News reported that Keito Nakamura set up the winner with strong work down the left before Doan finished it.

According to 1News, New Zealand spent long spells defending and mostly dealt with the crosses Japan sent into the box. Once the game opened up, Japan were too dangerous in the area.

The loss ends a four-match window. New Zealand drew 2-2 with Palestine, beat China PR 3-0, then drew 1-1 with Panama in the semi-final and won the shootout 5-3.

That semi-final was played in Yokohama, RNZ reported. Marko Stamenić scored after 13 minutes, and Panama's Giovany Herbert equalised just on halftime. Tyler Bindon, Stamenić, Moses Dyer, Lachlan Bayliss and Michael Boxall all scored their penalties. Japan also reached the final on penalties, beating Ecuador 5-4 after a 0-0 draw, Friends of Football reported.

Boxall wasn't in the original squad. Friends of Football reported that Nando Pijnaker and Finn Surman pulled out injured, and Boxall and Bill Tuiloma were called up to replace them. Callum McCowatt also withdrew under concussion protocols. Chris Wood, the Nottingham Forest striker with 45 goals in 94 caps, was not available against Palestine or China.

That left minutes for players lower down the pecking order. Auckland FC forward Logan Rogerson played in all three games before the final. He told Friends of Football the tour gave players who got no minutes at the World Cup a chance to "show maybe Baze (coach Darren Bazeley) what he missed out on at the World Cup."

Dyer was recalled from Phnom Penh Crown in the Cambodian Premier League. "I've been loving every second of it," he told the same outlet.

Swansea City's Eli Just reached 50 caps against Panama. He called it "special, very special," Friends of Football reported.

The next chance to impress Bazeley comes in November, when New Zealand play India twice at home. The first match is at Go Media Stadium, Mt Smart, on Thursday 12 November at 7pm. The second is at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday 15 November at 4pm. It will be the All Whites' first match at the Christchurch ground, 1News said.