According to Sports Nippon, Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki saved a penalty from Ecuador's third penalty taker in the Kirin Cup shootout, helping Japan win 5-4 and advance to the final.

Suzuki spoke about his save, saying, "I focused on the ball, and I felt that if the shot wasn't very accurate, I might be able to save it. For that save, I intentionally moved early and also observed the opponent's tendencies." He added, "It would have been better if I could have saved another penalty to make the game safer, but it's good to get an advantage early."

The Japanese team has trained penalties for the World Cup, and the goalkeepers have also practiced how to react when opponents try to trick them into moving too early. Suzuki said, "We've been training these things during our World Cup preparations, and I think this time really showed the results of our training." He believes penalties will also be crucial at the Asian Cup and stated that he needs to be ready not only for shootouts but also for saving penalties during regular play.

Suzuki's long balls and medium passes often initiate Japan's attacks, and some spectators were impressed by his long passing range. He chuckled and said, "Even with a misplaced kick, the stands get excited. I think, 'That's clearly a mistake.'" He explained that opponent man-marking is tight, and he creates some direct opportunities; when the opponent defends the center, other areas open up, and he observes the open space and striker positions before distributing the ball.

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