Training Match  vs  Malaysia Futsal National Team
2015-9-8 (Tue.）- 15:00   Playing Time: 40min (20min×2)
Beppu Arena (Beppu, Oita)

Japan Futsal National Team   6-5 (1-4, 5-1)   Malaysia Futsal National Team

Scores
4:22   Goal against
4:57   Goal against
11:27   Goal against
17:03   Goal against
18:03   SAKAI Rafael Yoshio (Japan/NAGOYA OCEANS)
20:58   SAKAI Rafael Yoshio (Japan/NAGOYA OCEANS)
25:00   INABA Kotaro (Japan/FUGADOR SUMIDA)
29:35   MINAMOTO Akira (Japan/FUCHU ATHLETIC F.C.)
30:48   Goal against
31:20   MINAMOTO Akira (Japan/FUCHU ATHLETIC F.C.)
31:40   Own Goal (Japan)

Starting Five
GK: SEKIGUCHI Yushi (ESPOLADA HOKKAIDO)
FP: TAKITA Manabu (PESCADOLA MACHIDA), MINAMOTO Akira (FUCHU ATHLETIC F.C.), 
NIBUYA Kazuhiro (VASAGEY OITA), WATANABE Tomoaki (DALIAN YUANCHAO/China)

Match Report

Futsal Japan National Team had a training match against Malaysia Futsal National Team in Beppu Arena, Oita on 9 September, and Japan beat Malaysia 6-5. 

Even though it was held in weekday, 250 supporters came to the venue and cheered on the Japanese players. 

In the beginning, Malaysian players’ momentum and passion tested Japan and they conceded 2 goals in the first 5 minutes. In the 12th and 18th minute, Japan lost 2 more goals and was now 4 goals behind Malaysia. 

However, SAKAI Rafael Yoshio’s (NAGOYA OCEANS)  2 goals in the 19th minute triggered Japan’s gradually getting to grips with the rhythm of the game. In the 2nd half, INABA Kotaro (FUGADOR SUMIDA) and MINAMOTO Akira (FUCHU ATHLETIC F.C.) scored and they equalised with Malaysia. In the 31st minute, Japan attracted Malaysia’s own goal and Japan won the match in the end.

After the match, Japan coach Miguel RODRIGO had a meeting with the team to tell them about the meaning of this training match, and he also stressed that this September camp has been the beginning of the very important preparation process for the next AFC Futsal Championship and the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia which will be held in 2016. 

Players' Comments 

OSODO Nobuya (SHRIKER OSAKA)
In our limited chance to work as a squad team, a training match is very important. In this opportunity, we allowed the opponents to do whatever they wanted to do against us. It was good that we could turn the game around in the 2nd half, but we shouldn’t repeat the same mistake. For the other training match tomorrow, we will do our best to make a higher level of play as a team.

TAKITA Manabu (PESCADOLA MACHIDA)
It was a good opportunity for us to check what to be careful about and what we really want to do. Especially in the 1st half, we had to see our own carelessness. We will think about the meaning of this training match opportunity and share what we want to do altogether for the next training match tomorrow. I will keep high mentality in my mind as a squad player. 

NIBUYA Kazuhiro (VASAGEY OITA)
Firstly I feel happy that I am a part of this camp which is held in my home, Oita. In the training match tomorrow, I want to do my best with the other top Japanese players so the audience enjoys futsal. We will also work hard to win the AFC Futsal Championship and the FIFA Futsal World Cup; that is our goal. 

Schedule

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