Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki saved a decisive penalty as Japan beat Ecuador in a shootout to reach the Kirin Cup final on Thursday.
Suzuki kept a clean sheet during the goalless match before making the intervention that separated the sides from the spot.
According to AS’s match report, he denied Castillo with Ecuador’s third penalty. Japan converted all five of their kicks to progress.
Zion Suzuki gives Japan decisive shootout moment
The performance adds another encouraging development after a rib problem disrupted the goalkeeper’s international break.
Suzuki had already returned to action against Venezuela, playing the second half of Japan’s 2-1 victory on Monday.
Thursday brought a clean sheet and a match-winning contribution in the shootout.
For Villa, his involvement offers further reassurance following the earlier fitness concern, although it does not replace a medical update from the club.
There is also an important distinction in assessing his performance. AS reports that Suzuki did not need to make a save during normal time, so this was not a match in which he repeatedly rescued Japan.
His decisive moment came when the contest reached penalties.
Villa resume their Premier League campaign against Brentford on 10 October, beginning a demanding nine-game sequence across three competitions.
