Japan 3-1 Uruguay: Ueda Ayase and the 'Plan B' Question at the No. 9 Position

Miyagi Stadium, the evening of September 24. The pitch still held a thin layer of moisture after a cool early-autumn day. On the stands, more than forty thousand fans filled the red seats. This was not a qualifier, nor a final. It was only an international friendly. But for Japan's national team, it carried the meaning of a new beginning. It was the first match of head coach Moriyasu Hajime's third term. The opponent was Uruguay, a side with two World Cup titles in its history. Before kickoff, some worried that a team in transition would struggle against an experienced South American opponent. But the match unfolded differently, and the way it ended is what deserves analysis. The first half was fairly balanced. Japan held more of the ball, pressing forward with quick combinations on both flanks. Uruguay waited for counterattacking chances. In the 11th minute, the opening goal came from a very young name: Matsuki Kuryu, who was making his senior national team debut. He scored on his very first appearance for the senior side, a moment any player dreams of. Uruguay did not collapse. Just before the first half ended, the visitors equalized. The 1-1 scoreline held for most of the second half. On the stands, the mood mixed disappointment and hope. Many had prepared for a bland draw. Then, when the clock ticked into the second minute of stoppage time, everything changed. Shiogai Kento, just brought on, found the net. Less than two minutes later, Ueda Ayase sealed the 3-1 win. Two goals in a brief span turned a seemingly quiet evening into one of Japan's most memorable moments this year. Ueda Ayase was the name most discussed after the match, and that was entirely understandable. The striker did not just score the decisive goal. Earlier, he had made a delicate run to meet a through ball from Kubo Takefusa, only for his shot to narrowly miss the target. And it was Ueda who assisted Shiogai's goal. One goal, one assist, one missed chance. It was a complete evening for a top-class centre-forward. To understand why Ueda Ayase matters so much to Japan right now, one must look back at his journey over the past two years. Last season he won the top scorer award in the Dutch Eredivisie. This season he moved to Lille in France and continued his consistent scoring form. Halfner Mike, a former Japan international striker who scored 17 goals in J1 and earned 18 caps with four goals, praised Ueda highly, noting that his sustained success in the Netherlands and France reflected clear confidence. When a striker has that confidence, the whole team looks for him and funnels the ball toward him. In the current Japan side, Ueda's finishing is an irreplaceable weapon. Halfner's words were not mere courtesy. They reflected a tactical reality: Japan is building its attack around Ueda's finishing. Midfielders such as Kubo Takefusa and the wingers tend to seek Ueda's position inside the box. Through balls, early crosses and one-touch combinations at the edge of the area all aim to deliver the ball to his feet or head. That is an advantage, but also a dependency that deserves an honest look. The question for Moriyasu is not whether Ueda starts. The question is who replaces him if he cannot play. This is what Halfner calls 'Plan B'. Against Uruguay, the starting centre-forward role went to Maeda Daizen. That was a reasonable choice, as Maeda is known for high pressing and stamina. But Maeda is a different type of striker from Ueda. He excels at pressing, making runs and providing a platform, rather than being a pure poacher inside the box. When Japan needs a goal in a stalemate, the absence of a sharp finisher like Ueda leaves a clear gap. Halfner said plainly that it is essential to have a leading candidate to replace Ueda, someone ready when called upon. He mentioned Goto Keisuke as a young prospect learning a great deal from Ueda. He also mentioned Tanimura Kaina of Yokohama F. Marinos, called up for the first time but yet to play against Uruguay. But the name that truly excited Halfner was Shiogai Kento, who scored the decisive goal. Halfner believed using Shiogai as a lone centre-forward was a worthwhile experiment, stressing the player's 'fierce' edge. Halfner noted that Moriyasu himself had mentioned that quality in interviews. Shiogai's greed, his desire to solve situations himself, and his solid physical base make him a viable option up front. However, Halfner offered an important caveat: Shiogai currently cannot secure regular playing time at his club, so winning a starting spot there comes first. Halfner believed scoring against Uruguay could give him momentum on his return to the club. Here lies an interesting paradox. While Japanese football searches for a backup plan for Ueda, it is precisely these young strikers who bring the most hope. Goto is young and full of energy. Tanimura is unproven but brimming with potential. Shiogai just scored. Three names, three styles, competing for one position. That is a depth many teams envy, but also a selection puzzle that is not easy to solve. Broadly speaking, Japan's problem is not a lack of options. It is that none of the candidates has shown the consistency to be a reliable backup for Ueda. In football, depending on a single striker is a risk. Injury, suspension, a dip in form, or simply a match in which the opponent locks down the main striker can leave a team struggling. Japan has faced such situations before, and that is why the coaching staff always seeks to diversify its attacking options. One rarely discussed aspect is the psychological pressure of playing centre-forward for Japan. With a football culture that has produced many famous strikers, whoever is chosen to play highest is always scrutinized. Goal count is the most cited criterion, and any scoreless run can become a media talking point. That partly explains why young strikers need time to adapt, and why the presence of someone like Ueda provides such stability. Returning to the Uruguay match, the 3-1 win was not just three goals. It was a test of the coaching staff's ability to turn a game around. When the team was pegged back and the match risked ending in a draw, the substitutions proved effective. Shiogai's introduction brought new life to the attack. His goal, along with Ueda's clincher, showed the team can create a difference even in the closing minutes. This recalls a lesson football always repeats: victories often come from small details. A sensible substitution, an intelligent run, a decisive finish. In the brief window of stoppage time, all these elements combined, and the result was a win. Looking back at the players' performances, one can see a shift in how Japan operates. High pressing remains the foundation, but there is added flexibility in switching between attacking plans. When Ueda is on, the ball is funneled toward him. When Maeda starts, the team leverages his pressing to create space for others. And when Shiogai comes on, the team gains an additional direct threat inside the box. However, this diversity also raises the question of whether the team has found its balance. Each attacking plan requires a different way of operating from midfield. When the striker is a link-up type, the midfielders need to push higher and penetrate the box more. When the striker is a poacher, the midfielders need to focus on supplying the ball. Switching between these plans within a single match is not simple and demands a high level of understanding. With the AFC Asian Cup approaching next January, building multiple attacking plans is a top priority. A long tournament with a dense schedule demands squad depth. No player can play every match at peak intensity. So having quality backups is a prerequisite for competing for the title. Halfner also raised an important point: one cannot rule out unexpected situations right before a major tournament such as the World Cup. Football history is full of examples of a key player suffering an injury at the worst possible moment. Preparing backup plans in advance is not pessimism, but professionalism. Back to the candidates for the centre-forward role in the future. Each name brings its own quality. Goto is rated as young, energetic and learning from those ahead of him. Tanimura is an intriguing unknown who could bring surprises if given a chance. Shiogai has proven he can score in a big match, and the 'fierce' edge Halfner mentioned is a valuable plus. Notably, all three are still young and need time to mature. Their development depends not only on innate talent, but also on their playing environment, their club minutes, and how the national team staff use them. For a young striker, playing regularly at club level is the single most important condition for improvement. That is why Halfner's advice to Shiogai is entirely reasonable. Despite scoring for the national team, his first task is to win a starting spot at his club. Only then can he maintain form, accumulate experience and become a reliable option in the long run. Overall, the win over Uruguay left many positive signals. A young player debuted and scored. A top striker confirmed his class with a goal and an assist. A substitute made a difference. The coaching staff showed the ability to change a game. And most importantly, the team won against a traditional South American opponent. Yet alongside these positives, questions remain unanswered. Who will be the reliable backup for Ueda? Can Shiogai sustain his scoring form? Can Goto and Tanimura rise in the coming months? And can Japan build an attack with enough depth to compete in both the Asian Cup and the World Cup? These questions will only be answered over time. For now, Japan has three more matches in this international window. It is a chance for the staff to test more plans, give chances to new faces, and continue shaping the playing style for the road ahead. For a football nation that always sets high goals, having many quality options at centre-forward is a key condition for reaching the top. Ueda Ayase is currently the front-runner. But for Japan to be truly strong, they need more than one man. They need a collective in which anyone given a chance can shine. The win over Uruguay was a fine start to Moriyasu's third term. But the journey ahead is long, and the real tests are still waiting. Building a solid 'Plan B' at centre-forward will be one of the most important puzzles the staff must solve in the coming months. When the ball rolls in the big matches, the team with more options is usually the one that goes further.