FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 - Group Stage Match 3
2015-7-13 (Mon.) - 16:00 Playing  Time: 12min x 3 period
Espinho Stadium (Espinho, Portugal)

Japan Beach Soccer National Team   4-3 (2-0, 2-0, 0-3)   Senegal Beach Soccer National Team

Scores
1'   GOTO Takasuke (Japan)
10'   TABATA Teruki (Japan)
16'   MATSUO Naoya (Japan)
21'   AKAGUMA Takuya (Japan)
33'   Goal against (Senegal)
34'   Goal against (Senegal)
36'   Goal against (Senegal)

Line-ups
GK: TERUKINA Shingo
FP: HARAGUCHI Shotaro, TABATA Teruki, MOREIRA Ozu, GOTO Takasuke

Substitutes
GK: GINOZA Tomoya
FP: AKAGUMA Takuya, ODA Hirofumi, MAKINO Shinji, MATSUO Naoya, OBA Takaaki, YAMAUCHI Shusei

Match Report

Japan Beach Soccer National Team played a match against Senegal for a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 in Portugal. 

Portugal won the game against Argentina in the same group prior to Japan’s game, which meant Japan could get through the group stage in second place if they won against Senegal. The same five players, who put in a steady performance in the past three matches, started the game.

In the first minute of the first period, GOTO Takasuke swept in a free kick calmly from the area in front of the goal, which he earned from an opponent’s foul, striking the opener. 

As Japan have conceded first goals in the previous two games, it was a very good start for them. Although Senegal created several goal-scoring opportunities through their unique rhythm, in which they aimed at goals from anywhere on the pitch, TERUKINA Shingo saved them superbly and kept a clean sheet. 

After 10 minutes, TABATA Teruki swept in a loose ball from the opponent’s goalkeeper, after taking a free kick from the area in front of the goal, building a two-goal lead before the last whistle of the first period. 

In the second period, Japan stayed ambitious for goals while showing their solid defence. In the 16th minute, MATSUO Naoya chipped a perfect lob from the half line, adding more insurance.

After 21 minutes, AKAGUMA Takuya, who received a pass next to the goal from MAKINO Shinji, struck Japan’s fourth goal, turning around quickly. The match went into the third period with a four-goal lead for Japan.

At the beginning of the last period, Japan moved the ball around with short passes, which is Japan’s style, taking complete initiative. Although Japan stayed ambitious for more goals, after 33 minutes, they conceded a goal from their mistake. 

After this loss, Japan may have lost their concentration a little. The opponent scored two more goals in a row, closing the gap to one goal in the last minutes. However, Japan’s spirit for victory was stronger. They sustained a one-goal lead until the last whistle. Japan won the game 4-3 and got through the group stage in second place, booking a place in the quarterfinals.

Japan will meet the Italy Beach Soccer National Team, who topped group B. The match will kick-off at 17:00 on Thursday 16 July local time (at 1:00 on Friday 17 July Japan Time). Japan will aim to become semi-finalists. 

Coach and Players' Comments

Marcelo MENDES, Coach
I’m very pleased that we got through the group stage and booked a place in the quarterfinals. The players played almost perfectly. Although they conceded several goals in a row in the final minutes of the last period, they could win the game. I’d like the players to have a good rest first and get themselves ready for the coming match against Italy.

TABATA Teruki (TOKYO LEQUIOS BS)
I’m very glad that we got through the group stage. As we could perform as we wanted as a team, I think the content of the game was good. However, we conceded three goals in the last minutes, I’d like to maintain my concentration more until the last whistle in the next match. 

We’ll have a two-day break to prepare ourselves before the next game. Personally, I was pleased to contribute to the team’s victory today, as I haven’t scored recently.

MOREIRA Ozu (TOKYO LEQUIOS BS)
I’m pleased that we could win the game to book a place in the next stage. All the players understood well what the coach Marcelo told us in the meeting prior to the game, and brought that into the match, which, I believe, lead us to a victory. 

As we could strike the opener at the beginning of the game, we were able to take the initiative. The current national team knows how to work as a team and any set of 12 players on the pitch can perform in the same way, which is one of our strengths. I’d like to get a good result in the coming match against Italy, showing our strength. 

OBA Takaaki (DORSOLE KITAKYUSHU)
I’m frankly just happy that we won today’s game and got through to the next stage. Although we played against three opponents in the group stage, each of whom had a different playing style, we stuck with our own style and won two games. That gave us some confidence. Playing in the World Cup, which has a different atmosphere form the qualifying round in Asia, is a good opportunity for me to improve myself. 

Of course, we aim to win the championship, but first I’d like to focus on winning the coming match against Italy. Italy is different from any of the teams we met in the group stage. However, I trust that we can beat them, if we follow the instruction of our coach. I’d like to become semi-finalists, which we haven’t achieved since the first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Schedule

*Local Time

Japan's Record for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

7 World Cup Appearances: 26 games played for 6-2-18 / 71 goals, 113 goals conceded

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015

Thu. 9 July - Sun. 19 July 2015
Quarter-Final
Fri. 17 July - 1:00 (Japan Time)
 Japan Beach Soccer National Team  vs. Italy Beach Soccer National Team

More information