The 9th Japan Beach Soccer Championship had games in the 2nd and 3rd Sec. Of the 1st round on Sunday, Sep. 14th.
Many people including beach soccer fans as well as children and their parents came to Shibukawa swimming beach. The organizer of the championship held many fun events such as the booth to advertise local products and a performance by a Tamano city mayor, Mr Susumu KURODA to disseminate Okayama's attractions.

As only one top team in each group will have tickets for the final round, games showed more excitement than those of a first day and audiences' enthusiasm was getting higher, making the competition heating up as the game reached its end.

In Group A, Sol Mar Praia (Kyusyu 2, Okinawa) beating Syonan Spread 1545 (Kanto 2, Kanagawa) in a first day at 3-2, won sweeping victories in each game with Alessa Uwajima at 5-1 and with Hokkai-Gakuen University Hermosa Cadera (Hokkaido) at 7-0, advancing to the final round.

In Group B, before entering into the 3rd Sec., there still was a possibility for 3 teams to get through the final round on the result of a match by Avente Osaka (Kansai, Osaka) being superior to others in winning points. The spotlighted game between Avente and Vamos a la Casa (Kanto 3, Chiba) ended in draw at 5-5, going into a penalty shootout.In the penalty shootout, goalkeepers of both teams made many outstanding saves. It lasted 15th kickers and then Vamos finally gained a winning but was slightly inferior to the final round.

In Group C, both Dorsore Kitakyusyu (Kyusyu 3, Fukuoka) and Tokyo Lequios BS (Kanto1, Tokyo) winning 2 victories and 6 points made a tight game. Lequios won the game and reached the best 4, thanks to good performances by Syotaro HARAGUCHI who lobbed a ball into the net just before end of the game, and other players.

In Group D, Leon Fukuoka (Kyusyu 1, Fukuoka), in the game against SPOSiC FAMILIA (Tokai, Shizuoka), scored the first point, gaining total 6 points only in the 1st period. The team pushed back SPOSiC's closing on, won the game at 7-4. Leon became the best 4 without a loss.

2 games of a semifinal and a final game will take place on Mon (public holiday), Sep. 15th.

Comments

Takashi CHIBA (Akita FC)
I learned a huge gap in performances between strong teams and us after experiencing "the real beach soccer" in this competition. As we have no appropriate place to practice and only what we usually did was to just play soccer on the sands, I came to know that there is the way to play on a beach as well as was surprised at other player's capabilities in a high level. Given such situation, gaining goals in our own way will benefit us in our future efforts.

Junpei HOKAIKE (Kochi University FC)
Compared with the 1st Sec. in an opening day, we could successfully made a close fight in today's 2 games. We could play unflinchingly when the opponent team had national team players and not allow the opponent decisive performance even though it shot a ball. I believe we could continue to grow up thanks to third consecutive appearance at the competition. The fight for next year has already started and I hope our juniors in my club to make efforts.

Yusuke SUMITANI (Avente Osaka)
As our teams was superior to others in winning points after the 2nd Sec., we could keep cool and play. We could definitely united and played, so I believe our today's game will make our tomorrow's performance better. I am really happy that my team reached the final round. I try to keep this momentum for playing tomorrow. I and my team-mates said to each other "we will change a history".

Takaya AKAGUMA (Dorsore Kitakyusyu)
As we believed a game against Tokyo Lequios BS was the most important game for us in this whole year, we prepared a lot for a victory. This was a truly unfortunate result, but we will make a lot of practice for definitely beating the team next time in the stage of national championship. As I played in a match-up of Ozu, I tried to not be inferior to him in a motivation and a power. After returning to Fukuoka, I will make efforts to reach higher level.

JFA-TV

The 9th Japan Beach Soccer Championship

Saturday 13 September 2014 〜 Monday 15 September 2014 
OKAYAMA／Shiukawa Beach
Information