Training Match vs U.S. Beach Soccer National Team
2017-1-15(Sun.) Kick-off 10:00 (Local Time)　Playing Time 45min. (15min.×3)
Fort Lauderdale（USA／Florida）

U.S. Beach Soccer National Team　2-3（1st 0-0, 2nd 1-2, 3rd 1-1）Japan Beach Soccer National Team

Scores
20'　GOTO Takasuke（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
23'　OBA Takaaki（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
24'　goal against（U.S. Beach Soccer National Team）
31'　GOTO Takasuke（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
31'　goal against（U.S. Beach Soccer National Team）

Starting Line-ups
GK：KAWAI Yusuke
FP：MOREIRA Ozu, HARAGUCHI Shotaro, OBA Takaaki, AKAGUMA Takuya

Substitutions
GK：TERUKINA Shingo
FP：ISO Hiroaki, KOMAKI Masayuki, IINO Tomoyuki, NAKAHARA Yuki, GOTO Takasuke

Match Report

The Japan Beach Soccer National Team, who are currently on a tour to the United States, had their second training match against the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team on Sunday 15 January.

With strong winds and occasional heavy rain, the US squad kicked off the match with the ball.

Unlike the training match held on previous day, the USA came out aggressively and threatened the Japan’s goal from the beginning. However, the Japanese defence led by goalkeeper KAWAI Yusuke did not allow the US side to score early, and they gradually started to create their scoring opportunities. GOTO Takasuke and MOREIRA Ozu attempted mid-range shots, and AKAGUMA Takuya got through on goal with his individual skills. But none of those chances found the target and the first period ended scoreless.

The second period continued to see the match in the balance. The US squad had several chances, but the Japanese side defended tenaciously at times throwing themselves into the line of shots and did not concede any goals. Then, in the 20th minute, Kawai’s long-range attempt hit the goalpost, but Goto quickly reacted to the deflected ball and slotted it back to the net, scoring the much-awaited opener for Japan. In the 23rd minute, receiving the ball on the right side, OBA Takaaki worked a neat give-and-go with Akaguma in the middle and successfully found the target, extending the lead to 2-0. However, right after their second, Japan conceded a goal from a mid-range shot from their opponents’ kicking-off. The second period ended with the Japanese side taking a 2-1 lead.

In the opening minute of the third period, Japan earned a penalty kick from a foul inside the box and calmly converted the spot kick to extend the lead to 3-1. However, the US side successfully scored off a kick-off. After this goal, both teams failed to capitalise on their scoring chances and the match ended 3-2. The Japanese squad posted a back-to-back win over the USA.

The team had a meeting after dinner. Using the video footage, they reviewed the goal-scoring and conceding scenes for the past two matches to prepare well for their third training match tomorrow.

Japan will have their final training match against the US National Team at 10:00 in Fort Lauderdale on Monday 16 January.

Players' Comments

GK TERUKINA Shingo (Sol Mar Praia Okinawa)
We had the second out of three training matches scheduled against the USA today. We were able to post a smashing victory 5-0 in the first match since they were not quite ready yet. However, we expected today’s match to be more competitive than the previous one, and it was indeed a difficult match. Their defence was much better, making the necessary adjustments from the previous match, and we could not create many scoring chances. However, we were playing with good rhythm and I was confident that we would eventually score if we didn’t conceded any goals.

In the second period we finally opened the scoring, but immediately after we added the second we conceded one from their kick-off. We scored another and extended the lead, but they struck again this time off a kick-off attempt reducing the advantage to one goal (3-2). What we need to improve is ‘keep playing at our pace’. Even though we managed the match fairly well and played with good rhythm, we made few trivial errors which could have given away the initiative to the opponents. This is exactly what we need to correct. We have another training match against the US tomorrow. I will pay close attention to those issues found today for the upcoming match.

FP GOTO Takasuke（Fusion）
This is an important trip for us to improve our combination prior to the qualifiers for the World Cup. I felt we haven’t been able to coordinate our efforts well as a team. As a result, we had two difficult matches by giving away the possession of the ball to the opponents. I think it is partly because all of us are too eager to be selected to the squad for the Asian qualifiers. If we cannot play as a united team with a common vision, then we will be facing tougher matches ahead. What is necessary for us is to keep our composure independent of our current situation. Having said that, it is still amazing that we posted a back-to-back win. We just want to keep winning as many games as possible and take this ‘winner’s mentality’ to the Asian qualifiers.

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.