Ayase Ueda struck two goals and contributed to a third to help send Japan into the Asian Cup last 16 with a 3-1 victory over Indonesia on Wednesday.
The Samurai Blue came into their Group D finale at Doha's Al Thumama Stadium on the back of a shock 2-1 loss Friday to Iraq that meant the four-time Asian champions could not finish on top of the group.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu started World Cup standout Ritsu Doan on the right wing and Feyenoord's Ueda up top among eight changes from the side that faced Iraq.
Ueda gave 17th-ranked Japan the lead just six minutes into the match against world No. 146 Indonesia, lashing a penalty into the top right corner after being dragged to the ground by opposition captain Jordi Amat.
"As a team, we were focusing on issues to reflect upon from the last game and made a good start to the match," Ueda said.
Keito Nakamura should have made it 2-0 in the 35th minute when Seiya Maikuma's cutback found him in front of goal, but the Reims attacker sent his shot into the upright.
Despite overwhelming possession in the first half, Japan did not score again until Ueda tapped in from the right of goal in the 52nd minute after Doan's low cross threaded its way through a crowded area.
Doan narrowly missed successive chances to extend the lead as Japan continued to pin Indonesia inside in their defensive third, but the Southeast Asians held firm until Ueda's shot was deflected for an own goal by Justin Hubner in the 88th minute.
Defender Sandy Walsh denied Japan their first clean sheet of the tournament with his goal from a long throw in the first minute of injury time.
"There are still lots of areas to improve (as a team) and personally as well, as there were moments of play I'm not satisfied with that I'd like to fix," Ueda said. "But it was positive I could score to help get the win."
As Group D runners-up, Japan will face the winners of Group E in the round of 16, with arch rivals South Korea and Jordan in contention.
