JAKARTA - Japan thrashed Indonesia 4-0 in Jakarta on Friday (Nov 15) as Hajime Moriyasu's relentless side moved seven points clear at the top of Group C of Asia's 2026 World Cup qualifiers and another step closer to an automatic finals spot.

An own goal from Justin Hubner 10 minutes before the interval gave the Japanese the lead before strikes from Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita and Yukinari Sugawara earned the visitors their fourth win in five qualifiers.

The result takes Japan onto 13 points, seven clear of Australia, Saudi Arabia and China who are all on six points with Bahrain on five and Indonesia bottom with three.

"I'm happy that we're top of the group, but we haven't gained anything yet," said Moriyasu. "Until we manage to secure the World Cup spot we have to keep on winning."

The first two finishers in each of Asia's three preliminary groups advance automatically to the 2026 World Cup while the third and fourth-placed nations progress to a further round of qualifiers.

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