What Japanese media have said about Ao Tanaka as Leeds United star in dramatic win
Ao Tanaka finally received his first start of the current international break with Japan on Thursday.
The Leeds United star has been forced to wait by the Blue Samarai.
After two substitute appearances already, Tanaka started as Japan challenged Ecuador on 1 October.
Playing 79 minutes before being taken off as planned in the 0-0 draw, the drama was only just beginning.
Japan and Ecuador went all the way to penalties, with ex-summer target Zion Suzuki saving one in a 5-4 victory.
It now means that Tanaka and his country will face New Zealand in the Kirin Cup final on Monday.
How did Japanese media react to Ao Tanaka?
It's been a rollercoaster six months for Tanaka on the international stage.
He'll be the first to admit that, after an inconsistent year of selection under Daniel Farke at Leeds, although fans wanted him to start more.
Getting to the World Cup in North America will always be a career highlight for him, but his mistake against Brazil saw them knocked out.
He's bounced back, and is keeping his starting spot.
After the draw with Ecuador, Football Channel rated Tanaka a solid 7/10, the third-highest rating in the entire squad.
Described as "dynamic" with "sharp" vertical passes, he was the key driving force in both defence and attack.
That slightly dropped from another outlet, with J3 Plus voting Tanaka only a 6.2/10, with help from the Japanese public.
What next for Ao Tanaka?
Farke will have been watching this one closely, as defeat would have brought his midfielder home early.
Instead, he will play again on Monday and likely start in the final, given how he was rated earlier on Thursday.
Leeds have a huge month ahead of them in the Premier League, though.
They return with an away trip to Arsenal, before welcoming Manchester United to Elland Road the following week.
October is rounded off by two away trips to Sunderland and Bournemouth, with this their toughest month by far already.
Tanaka's tenacity will be key in the middle of the park, so let's hope that another fixture, as well as the later travel back doesn't affect him too hard going into them.