JAPAN FOOTBALL - NEWS

  

Kagawa hits for 2 in rout of Afghans

TEHRAN — Shinji Kagawa helped sweep away the gray clouds hovering over the Samurai Blue in recent months, scoring two goals to lift Japan to a 6-0 victory over Afghanistan in Tehran on Tuesday in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Japan took the early lead on Kagawa’s middle-range shot in the 10th minute, with defender Masato Morishige following suit in the 35th minute. The team added four goals in the second half, including Kagawa’s second of the match and two from forward Shinji Okazaki.

“It was a superb win. It’s not easy to score six goals,” Japan manager Vahid Halilhodzic said.

“We made many chances, and there were some beautiful goals. But our team still has lots of room for improvement.”

With the win, the Samurai Blue improved to seven points in Group E with two wins and a draw. Japan will next face group leader Syria on Oct. 8 in Oman. Syria beat Cambodia 6-0 to remain perfect with nine points from three matches.

The match marked the first for the Samurai Blue outside of Japan in the second round. Although played in the neutral site of Tehran, most of the crowd supported Afghanistan and booed when Japan players possessed the ball.

Kagawa silenced the crowd 10 minutes after kickoff when he received a pass outside the box. He quickly turned around and rifled a right-foot shot into the net. “I had a good touch on the shot,” the Borussia Dortmund midfielder said after the game.

The attacker showed his composure again five minutes into the second half, when he slotted his second goal into the net from inside the box.

Kagawa had also scored in Japan’s previous game, a 3-0 win over Cambodia, but he wore a gloomy look on his face after the match as he wasted a goal-scoring opportunity in the first half.

With criticism of Japan’s lack of a finishing touch intensifying recently, it had been apparent that Kagawa was under heavy pressure as the player wearing the No. 10 uniform, Japan’s ace number.

However, the 26-year-old became the catalyst for Japan’s goal rush in the Iranian capital, aggressively running around the pitch.

“His good performance on the club level was displayed with the national team today,” Halilhodzic said in praise of Kagawa. “I hope he can continue playing like this.”

“We were able to ride the tide created by Shinji’s goal,” said AC Milan striker Keisuke Honda, who scored Japan’s sixth goal in the 74th minute.

Morishige shines at both ends

Morishige made his presence felt both on defense and offense.

The FC Tokyo defender occasionally joined Japan’s attack from the defensive line to add pressure. “We mustn’t back away from an opponent that locks itself in its territory,” he said.

He threatened the Afghanistan goal with a header in the 35th minute, but the shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. However, Honda made a desperate slide to save the rebound from going out, and Morishige met the deflected ball and put it in the net.

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Urawa fightback falls short as Albirex reach Nabisco Cup semis

Albirex Niigata reached the semifinals of the Nabisco Cup for the first time on Sunday, despite a 3-0 defeat to J. League first-stage winners Urawa Reds in the second leg of the quarterfinals.

Second-half goals from Tadanari Lee and Yuki Abe (two) fueled hopes of a Reds comeback, but Niigata advanced 5-3 on aggregate after Wednesday’s huge first-leg win at Big Swan.

Niigata will meet the winner of a later kick-off between holder Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus in the two-leg semis on Oct. 7 and 11. The final will be held at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Oct. 31.

J. League second-stage leaders Kashima Antlers also made the last four, Mu Kanazaki scoring twice in a 3-0 win at home to FC Tokyo and sending Antlers through 5-2 on aggregate. Antlers will face Vissel Kobe, who lost 3-2 at home to Kashiwa Reysol but went through 4-3 overall.

“The players were composed in the 5-0 win in the first leg and they kept that composure tonight and did not get rattled even when we went 2-0 down,” said Niigata coach Masaaki Yanagishita.

“Our aim was to make the next round and I am pleased we were able to achieve that.”

Niigata twice went close to breaking the deadlock in the early stages in rain-swept Saitama, Naoki Kawaguchi forcing a good save from Koki Otani before Masaru Kato’s long-range effort rattled the crossbar in the 15th minute.

Tsukasa Umesaki gave Niigata goalkeeper Tatsuya Morita his first test with a low drive at the far post moments later but Niigata striker Ryohei Yamazaki squandered the best chance of the first period when he blazed over with the goal at his mercy in the 33rd minute.

Reds took the lead 10 minutes into the second half, with Abe connecting with Yoshiyuki Takagi’s corner to score with an exquisite flick, and halftime substitute Lee steered in Tomoya Ugajin’s leftwing cross three minutes later to double the lead.

Abe then won and converted a penalty after being brought down by Sho Naruoka to make it 3-0 and Niigata breathed a collective sigh of relief as Yuki Muto went close to extending Reds’ advantage when he scooped over from close range.

“We knew if we conceded just one goal then it really would be all over but the players upped the tempo in the second half and scored three goals,” said Reds coach Mihailo Petrovic.

“If Muto had scored that chance then it would have put even more pressure on Niigata and I believe if that had happened we could have got another. We have been knocked out but I have to give credit to my players for the way they performed.”

Niigata, Kobe make 1st semis at Nabisco Cup

SAITAMA — Albirex Niigata and Vissel Kobe both went down to defeat on Sunday, but the losses were not enough to keep either from advancing to the semifinals of the J.League Nabisco Cup for the first time ever.

Albirex, beaten 3-0 by host Urawa Reds in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie, made it to the next stage on aggregate thanks to a 5-0 win in the first leg. Host Vissel went through on a 4-3 aggregate despite losing 3-2 to Kashiwa Reysol.

Albirex will next face Gamba Osaka, while Vissel will take on Kashima Antlers in the two-leg semifinals on Oct. 7 and 11.

Gamba needed a penalty shootout to get past Nagoya Grampus after the two sides played to a second draw, while Kashima swept past FC Tokyo 3-0 after a 2-2 draw in the first leg.

Needing at least five goals to avoid elimination, Urawa changed its usual formation and went on the offensive from the beginning. Niigata, led by defensive midfielder Leo Silva, countered by playing physical and containing Urawa’s attack to keep the first half scoreless.

However, Albirex succumbed to Urawa’s pressure in the second half. After allowing consecutive goals in the 55th and 58th minutes, Reds added a third goal on a penalty in the 70th minute.

“I’m disappointed with the loss, but our main goal was to advance to the next stage,” Albirex captain Kentaro Oi said.

The team is currently 15th in the overall standings in the J.League first division.

Hiroshima come closer to stay in league with win over Nagoya – Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST

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Pick-up Match

Nagoya Grampus U18   2-3 (1-2, 1-1)   Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST had its Matchday 13 on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September. The contest between bottom placed Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) and 8th placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima) turned out to be exciting throughout the match.

Hiroshima picked up their pace early on with a determination, "This is a big game that decides whether we are going to be relegated or keep a spot in the league. We really need to win the match," according to defender HIGASHINO Kotaro. Hiroshima played on long balls against Nagoya who were struggling with a slippery pitch.

In the 10th minute, Hiroshima opened the scoring when forward KATO Mutsuki committed his body to a left low cross in front of goal. And forward YAMANE Towa tapped a clearance into the net. Yamane said, "I came out to this match with a determination to score a goal." In the 25th minute, he picked up a missed clearance by the opposing defenceman and sent it into the unguarded net to extend his team's lead.

Nagoya coach TAKATA Tetsuya said, "The early two goals hurt us." Nagoya tried to come back with two early substitutions to change the course of the game. In the 42nd minute, Nagoya forward FUKAHORI Shunpei scored a goal before finishing the first half.

The 2nd half also saw a seesaw battle. Both teams had critical counterattack opportunities in the 73rd minute but failed to convert. In the 76th minute, Nagoya midfielder KAJIYAMA Kanta's cross forced the opposition into a handball for a penalty. Forward MORI Shota netted the spot kick to level the score 2-2. Nagoya caught the momentum and played in the opposing end but were not able to score a comeback goal.

Hiroshima went ahead again while the match looked like ending in a draw. After Kawagoe ran up to slot a cross from right flank through midfielder TAKEMOTO Yuhi's pass, substitute midfielder KAWAMOTO Keita headed home to decide the match. Hiroshima edged ahead in a heated contest and grabbed a valuable victory that may determine the relegation battle.

Coach and Players' Comments

TAKATA Tetsuya, Coach (Nagoya Grampus U18)
It was not a good weather, so I was expecting the opponents would send long balls. But our deficiency of match management was apparent when we tried to use short passes and rushed too much at important moments. Even so, thanks to our substitutes, we were able to equalise.

The opponents also seemed to be afraid of the momentum we got. But we can't battle it out until the end. That's what we need to improve. In the end, we fell to Hiroshima who outplayed us mentally and physically.

IKENIWA Ryoya (Nagoya Grampus U18)
It's disappointing we weren't able to win the match in the end. In the first half, we wanted to pass the ball around as usual and attack from sides, but we weren't able to do that. And it's disappointing we ended up conceding a goal through our mistake. Now each one of the players is working hard, but that has not led to the outcome as a team.

Unless we win the rest of five matches, we are going to get in a situation where it is difficult for us to stay in the league. We need to unite as a team more than before. We can't get the team relegated at our generation. We will get together to stay in the Premier League.

SAWADA Kentaro (Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth)
When it comes to this pitch condition, the outcome of win or loss is depending on our performance if we can win physical battles, play composedly and commit ourselves on defence. We conceded a goal in the 1st half. But the players showed their fighting spirit in dangerous situations by throwing their body and gave momentum to the team. Yet other teams also added points, so we can't get relieved only with this win. We will continue to play each one of the remaining matches like today.

YAMANE Towa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth)
We were all able to battle it out. That's why we won today. Because I started this season late due to injury, it was my second time to play on the starting lineup this year. When I started the Kyoto Tachibana match for the first time this year, I was too tensed and did nothing.

But today I was relaxed before the match, visualising a goal. NAGANUMA Yoichi is away for the Japan U-18s, and it was a good opportunity for me to showcase myself. I was trying to get a chance and grab a starting lineup spot. I'm happy to score two goals.

Other Matches

Kyoto Tachibana High School   2-1 (0-1, 2-0)   Cerezo Osaka U-18
Gamba Osaka Youth   2-0 (0-0, 2-0)   Riseisha High School
Higashi Fukuoka High School   5-3 (3-0, 2-3)   Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Oita Trinita U-18   2-1 (0-1, 2-0)   Vissel Kobe U-18

Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto) took on league-leading Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka). Although the Kyoto side finished the 1st half one goal down, they scored two goals in the 2nd half for a comeback win.

The clash between Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) and Riseisha High School (Osaka) saw a close contest as the 1st half ended scoreless. After converting two 2nd half penalty into goals, Gamba Osaka clinched a victory for the first time in four matches.

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) welcomed Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) at home as Kyoto's high school edged an eight-goal thriller for their seventh win.

Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) allowed Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) to open the scoring early on, but MIYACHI Yujiro and SAGIHARA Takuya helped their team snatch a comeback win. As a result, Oita moved up to the top of the Premier League WEST in place of Cerezo Osaka.