The AFC Beach Soccer Championship Qatar 2015
Kick-off: 17:30 on Tuesday 24 March 2015
Playing time: 12 min x 3 periods
Venue: Katara Beach (Doha, Qatar)

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

Scores
2'　 GOTO Takasuke (Japan)
4'　 MOREIRA Ozu (Japan)
11'  AKAGUMA Takuya (Japan)
27'  Goal against (Vietnam)
30'  Goal against (Vietnam)

Line-ups
GK:  TERUKINA Shingo
FP:   ODA Hirofumi, MOREIRA Ozu, GOTO Takasuke, OBA Takaaki

Substitutes
GK:  SUGITA Tetsuji
FP:   TABATA Teruki, MAKINO Shinji, AKAGUMA Takuya, HARAGUCHI Shotaro
*All players played except for Sugita

Non-registered members
GK:  MATSUO Naoya, YAMAUCHI Shusei

Match Report

The second match of the group stage at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Qatar 2015 was against the Vietnam Beach Soccer National Team, whom Japan beat 7-2 at the Asian Beach Games in Thailand last November. If Japan won this game, they would get though the group stage. Just after the kick-off, Japan earned a corner kick and GOTO Takasuke struck a superb opener with an over-the-head shot. Then soon after that, MOREIRA Ozu blasted a shot into the net from a free kick in front of the goal, even though the opponent’s goalkeeper got a hand to it. After 10 minutes, AKAGUMA Takuya, who was in front of the goal, sank a long-distance shot from the goalkeeper TERUKINA Shingo, with a deflection from a header. The first period ended 3-0 to Japan.

Japan continued to take the initiative throughout the second period. However, they could not build a bigger leader before the whistle due to Vietnam’s efforts in defence.

In the last period, Japan started to lose their pace. After three minutes, the opponent got through Japan’s solid defensive line and struck a goal easily, closing the gap. Although Japan kept possession, they could not find the back of the net any more. They conceded another goal from a counter-attack. With only a one-goal lead, Japan threw everything into preventing the equalizer until the last whistle. Japan won two games in a row, securing a place in the knockout stage before tomorrow’s last group stage match against China.

Head Coach and Players’ Comments

Marcelo Mendes, Head Coach
We had some good moments and also difficult ones during today’s match. In both the first and the second periods, we kept taking the initiative, scoring three goals in the first period. Also there were several more goal-scoring opportunities, in which we should have scored. In the third period, we gave away many opportunities to the opponent and conceded two goals. Having said that, I’d like to point out that we could get through to the knockout stage by winning this kind of game. We’d like to win the game against China tomorrow, and top the group.

FP 3  ODA Hirofumi (TOKYO LEQUIOS BS)
We played two matches of the Asian qualifying round and won them. Today’s game against Vietnam was a tough one, though. Although we finished the first period with a three-goal lead, we couldn’t add any more. Then the opponent scored two goals. We won the game with a one-goal lead. As there is still some room for improvement, I’d like to win the third match of the group stage against China tomorrow solidly, getting through to the knockout stage on a positive note.

FP 14  AKAGUMA Takuya (Dorsole Kitakyushu)
We scored consecutively at the beginning of today’s match, and played calmly at our pace. However, we couldn’t add any goals in either the second or the third periods. I think we made the game difficult for us. Personally, I’m glad I scored in the way I always aim to. I’d like to play, bearing in mind my role - keeping the ball in the front line and passing the ball to the players running up front. I’d like to contribute to the team to win the last match of the group stage tomorrow.

Schedule