Training Match vs Costa Rica Beach Soccer National Team
2017-1-21(Sat.) Kick-off 11:00 (Local Time) Playing Time 12 min ×3
Fedefut’s Alajuela Soccer Complex（Costa Rica／San Jose）

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

Scores
7'　OBA Takaaki（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
11'　IINO Tomoyuki（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
21'　MOREIRA Ozu（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）
22'　goal against（Costa Rica Beach Soccer National Team）
26'　goal against（Costa Rica Beach Soccer National Team）
29'　goal against（Costa Rica Beach Soccer National Team）
30'　GOTO Takasuke（Japan Beach Soccer National Team）

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

Substitutions
GK：KAWAI Yusuke
FP：ISO Hiroaki, KOMAKI Masayuki, IINO Tomoyuki, NAKAHARA Yuki, AKAGUMA Takuya

Match Report

The Japan National Beach Soccer Team, who are currently on a tour to Costa Rica, held a training match against Costa Rica on Saturday 21 January.

With a temperature of nearly 30 degrees and under the scorching sun, the match started with Japan’s kick-off. The Japanese side took the early initiative by keeping the possession of the ball.

In the beginning of the match, Japan created a number of goal-scoring opportunities through goalkeeper TERUKINA Shingo’s accurate long balls, but the opposing goalkeeper’s fine saves kept the Japanese team from scoring. However, in the 7th minute, surging up the right flank, AKAGUMA Takuya sent a cross towards onrushing OBA Takaaki who successfully scored an opener with a header in front of the goal. In the 11th minute, IINO Tomoyuki got into space behind the Costa Rica defenders from a one-two with GOTO Takasuke and composedly found the target to make it 2-0 before the first period ended.

Both teams created chances and it turned out to be closely-contested second period. In the 21st minute, MOREIRA Ozu brilliantly fired home a long-range free kick just outside of the penalty box to put his side further ahead 3-0. But just after extending the lead, in the 22nd minute, an opposing player put home with a bicycle kick from a throw in to close the gap to 3-1 before the second period came to an end.

Entering into the third period, Japan conceded two goals in a row as they started to run out of stream. Costa Rica sent a long-range blast for 3-2 in the 26th minute and equalised at 3-3 with a shot from the edge of the box in the 29th minute. Both sides had chances but wasted them before the match got into the last minutes. And Japan finally edged ahead in the 30th minute. HARAGUCHI Shotaro cleared the ball that an opponent failed to control, and it rolled to the open space behind the Costa Rica defenders. Goto quickly responded to it and got past the goalkeeper to capitalise on a one-on-one situation to give his side a 4-3 lead.

Japan let the remaining time run out by passing the ball around well at their end of the pitch. Although Japan attempted to hit on the break through goalkeeper Terukina’s quick feeds, those chances were denied again by the opposing goalkeeper’s great saves. However, the Japanese players committed themselves to keep the opponents from scoring and got out of a threatening situation in the closing minutes. Japan grabbed the 4-3 close win.

During the dinner time, the players celebrated MOREIRA Ozu’s 31st birthday on 21 January with a cake.

On Sunday 22 at 11 a.m., Japan will play their last training match of this trip against Costa Rica at Club Punta Leona.

Players' Comments

FP MOREIRA Ozu（Fusion）
It’s been a while since I played in a hot weather like this, but I think we maintained an excellent physical condition from the start to the end. In the first period, we did a fantastic job especially the scoring. For a long stretch, we dominated the match but only scored two goals despite having plenty of chances. If we had scored more goals, we could have played more advantageously, so that’s something we have to work on. Furthermore, we have to improve our defence as a whole. We will correct the things that our coach pointed out in the meeting after the match to perform better in the training match tomorrow. Speaking of myself, I could score a goal on my birthday to help the team win, which turned out to be a good birthday present for myself.

FP HARAGUCHI Shotaro（Inter Japan BS）
It was very important for us to come out of the match with a win. At the same time, we need to correct the issues we had in today’s match as a team. Furthermore, each individual must show improvement in tomorrow’s match and raise the quality of this team.

Schedule

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