FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017
Group Stage 2nd Match vs Tahiti Beach Soccer National Team
30 April 2017 (Sun.) Kick-off 15:30 Playing Time 45min. (15min. × 3)
Nassau Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)

Japan Beach Soccer National Team 3-4（1st 0-1, 2nd 0-0, 3rd 3-3）Tahiti Beach Soccer National Team

Scores
4'　goal against（Tahiti Beach Soccer National Team）
26'　AKAGUMA Takuya（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
26'　goal against（Tahiti Beach Soccer National Team）
28'　goal against（Tahiti Beach Soccer National Team）
31'　AKAGUMA Takuya（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
34'　AKAGUMA Takuya（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
35'　goal against（Tahiti Beach Soccer National Team）

Starting Line-ups
GK：TERUKINA Shingo
FP：TABATA Teruki, OBA Takaaki, MOREIRA Ozu, GOTO Takasuke

Substitutions
GK：KAWAI Yusuke
FP：SUZUKI Masato, HARAGUCHI Shotaro, YAMAUCHI Shusei, IINO Tomoyuki, KOMAKI Masayuki、AKAGUMA Takuya

Match Report

After securing a win in their opening game of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017, the Japan National Team faced runners-up of the previous World Cup Tahiti in their second group-stage match. While Japan aimed to seal a place in the knockout stages with a victory, the Tahitian counterparts had their back against the wall after losing their opener to Brazil. Both teams with so much in stake attracted many supporters who came to cheer their side and watch the important contest which began from 15:30.

Tahiti took an early lead in the 4th minute of the first period as Tearii LABASTE opened the scoring with an overhead shot. Attempting to level the match, the Japanese squad attacked more aggressively with GOTO Takasuke threatening the Tahitian goal, but his effort was denied by the crowned best goalkeeper of the previous World Cup, Jonathan TOROHIA. Japanese keeper TERUKINA Shingo proved equal to the task as he saved superbly a powerful shot to keep the opponents from doubling the early advantage. Both teams failed to capitalise on their chances in the remainder of the period ending in 1-0 favouring the French Polynesian.

In the second period, Japan created several chances from AKAGUMA Takuya combining with IINO Tomoyuki, but once again failed to get past Tahitian keeper Torohia and find the net. On the other hand, Tahiti threatened the Japanese goal with Angelo TCHEN’s shot, but their last man Terukina blocked it superbly. Then, another scoring opportunity came for Japan, as YAMAUCHI Shusei cushioned a ball neatly for OBA Takaaki to fire at goal, but keeper Torohia stood strongly between the Japanese striker and Tahiti’s goal, and denied the chance to level the match by getting in the line of the shot. Towards the end of the period, goalkeeper Terukina attempted to equalise from range, but only to see it blazed over the crossbar. With some brilliant goalkeeping to keep the intense second period scoreless, the Tiki Toa took a one-goal advantage to the second break.

The Japanese squad got together before getting into the third period with encouraging words “Let’s get it done!” Then, after 26 minutes, Akaguma met TABATA Teruki’ corner with a powerful header to equalise the match for his side. However, moments later off a kick-off, Heiarii TAVANAE’s blasted a brilliant shot from range to reclaim the lead for the Oceania champions, and Patrick TEPA stretched their lead to 1-3 by heading home a corner to the near post in the 28th minute.

After denying an opponents’ scoring chance off a counter in the 31st minute, Japanese striker Akaguma fought hard to claim the ball in front of the goal and, after evading the challenge of the opposing defender, slotted past the goalkeeper to cut his side’s deficit to a single goal. Then, the awaited equaliser came in the 34th minute off Terukina’s long throw as Yamauchi on the right directly crossed to the centre, where Akaguma levelled the match with a diving header and completed a hat-trick. But, the tragic moment for Japan came in the closing minute of the match, as captain Raimana LI FUNG KUEE scored the decisive goal for the Taki Toa off a counter-attack and put an end to a enticing 4-3 thriller.

With Japan and Tahiti sharing the record with one win and one loss, neither of the teams have yet to secure a place in the knockout stages. Along with group leaders Brazil posting two straight wins and winless Poland, the final group-stage fixtures will see all four teams in Group D compete for the two top spots to advance to the next round.

Match Details

Japan will face Brazil in their third and final group-stage match on Tuesday 2 May from 18:30 local time (3 May 7:30 Japan Time) and fight for their spot in the knockout stages.

Coach and Player Comment

Marcelo MENDES, Coach (Japan Beach Soccer National Team)
We expected a tough match from the beginning, and even if we fell behind, I instructed my players that we would stick to our original game plan and display our brand of football until the end. We had an excellent match against runners-up of the previous World Cup Tahiti, but it was regrettable that we were not clinical enough with our finishes. The difference in the match was the precision and decisiveness to convert those scoring chances. We failed to score from a free kick towards the end of the match as well. Unfortunately, these kinds of things happen in football. We cannot keep reflecting on our past failure, but must move on instead. And now, we face a difficult situation where we cannot advance to the next round without winning the Brazil match. We must refresh our mind and make a good preparation for the coming game.

FP ＃9 AKAGUMA Takuya (Japan Beach Soccer National Team)
Despite allowing the opponents to score first, we were resilient and fought together to level the match. However, throughout the game, we were unable to take the lead. I believe the result might have been different, if we could have converted those chances to give our side the lead to play more advantageously. Every goal I scored came from a brilliant pass or a cross, and all I needed to do was to slot it into the back of the net. It is regrettable that I had few more chances to score and in hindsight one of the reasons for losing was the failure to convert those chances. Tahiti’s goalkeeper is brilliant, but we have been practising with even better keeper of our own and this allowed us to score goals today. Now we need to focus on the coming Brazil match and give our best performance in order not to have any regrets after the game. All our efforts will be meaningless if we do not get through the group stage. I will work hard to contribute to the team’s win.

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule may be subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017

27 April 2017 (Thu.) ～ 7 May 2017 (Sun.)
Tournament Information