Returning midfielder Ao Tanaka scored the early winner as Japan saw off North Korea 1-0 at home in World Cup qualifying on Thursday, in the Samurai Blue's first action since being knocked out of the Asian Cup at the quarterfinal stage.A third straight Group B win in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will take some pressure off manager Hajime Moriyasu after he came under fire for his team's performance at the recent Asian Cup in Qatar.World No. 18 Japan and No. 114 North Korea were scheduled to meet again Tuesday in Pyongyang, but the Japan Football Association said…READ FULL ARTICLE
