The 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
Quarter-final vs Jordan Futsal National Team
23 September 2017 (Sat.) Kick-off 13:00 (Local Time) Playing Time 40min.(20min.×2）
Multifunctional Sport Venue Hall-1 (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan)

Japan Futsal National Team 4-1 (1-1, 3-0 Jordan Futsal National Team

Scores
3'　MUROTA Yuki（Japan Futsal National Team）
11'　goal against（Jordan Futsal National Team）
27'　UEMATSU Koto（Japan Futsal National Team）
36'　MUROTA Yuki（Japan Futsal National Team）
39'　HASHIMOTO Masaya（Japan Futsal National Team）

Starting Line-ups
GK：YAZAWA Daimu
FP：UEMATSU Koto, MUROTA Yuki, SHIMIZU Kazuya, UEMURA Atsuya

Reserves
GK：MIURA Taku, UEHARA Takuya
FP：HARA Shinsuke, TAMURA Kasho, HORIGOME Shota, YAGI Kiyoto, SAITO Koichi, MORIMURA Takashi, HASHIMOTO Masaya

Match Report

Japan Futsal National Team, who are currently participating in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, topped Group C and faced Jordan in the quarter-finals on Saturday 23 September. The national squad have been assembled with many new and young talents, who have shown significant improvements with each game in this tournament, and were now competing in the quarter-final match with the momentum they gained from getting through the first round as the top of the group.

Japan got off to an excellent start in the 3rd minute, when captain MUROTA Yuki collected the clearance in the opposing end and evaded the challenge of the Jordanian player to fire home the opener for his team. However, the match stayed in the balance after this goal, as Jordan stayed back and defended solidly, while they looked for chances to score from counter-attacks. Then after 11 minutes, Jordan capitalised on the error from the Japanese squad and levelled the match. In the remainder of the first half, both sides had few scoring opportunities, but lacked the clinical finishing to claim the lead before the game went one apiece at halftime.

During the break, Japanese coach Bruno GARCIA cautioned the team, ‘So far I am not seeing the same concentration and the intensity level that I saw in the group stages. There is no way we are going to win with this level of performance.’ He further added before sending his players back inside the court, ‘We will always have chances to score. Now pull yourself together and let’s advance to the semi-finals.’

Garcia’s men quickly responded to his advice during the halftime break and found their attacking flair in the 28th minute, when UEMATSU Koto reacted to the loose ball after the opposing goalkeeper failed to parry away a shot from danger and struck home a go-ahead goal to reclaim a 2-1 lead.

The Japanese squad regained their composure and managed the game brilliantly for the remainder of the match. In the 36th minute, Murota fired in his second of the game after receiving a neat pass from Uematsu to give his side a two-goal advantage, In the last two minutes, Jordan employed a power play, however the Japanese internationals did not miss a golden opportunity when they collected the ball from the opponents’ error. HASHIMOTO Masaya put an end to the match by scoring the fourth into the empty net, before Japan sealed 4-1 win over Jordan in the quarter-finals.

Advancing to the semi-finals after beating the tough Jordanian squad who stayed back and focused their efforts on defence, Japan Futsal National Team will face Uzbekistan on Sunday 24 at 19:00 for a place in the final.

Coach's and Players' Comments

Bruno GARCIA, Coach (Japan Futsal National Team)
I am simply glad that we booked a place in the semi-finals. It was a meaningful result that we made it to the final four in the tournament where top teams in Asia gathered. It was a tough match as anticipated against Jordan today. There were skilful players in the squad, and they were the side who excelled in defending in their own end and scoring from counter-attacks. We managed to secure a 4-1 win at the end, but the game was in the balance in the first half. We regained composure and played more advantageously in the second after scoring and reclaiming the lead. I am also sensing a stronger determination to winning from my players as we advance further in the tournament. I believe that the semi-final against Uzbekistan will be a difficult match as well. We have only a limited time to get ready for the match, but will make a good preparation to win the game.

GK #2 YAZAWA Daimu (FUGADOR SUMIDA)
I must say we had a hard time breaking through a solid Jordanian defence, and while we struggled to score, they created several menacing chances from counter-attacks. We were tied one apiece at halftime and could not perform as well as we expected in the first half. We braced ourselves at the halftime break and went all out for the second half. Our opponents threatened us several times, but we took control of the match after Uematsu scored a goal. We are facing Uzbekistan in the semi-finals tomorrow. We will play as one united team and do our best to reach the final.

FP #6 UEMATSU Koto (Shonan Bellmare)
It was a difficult match against Jordan. We had long stretches where we struggled, but did well to come up with a win at the end by scoring and extending the lead at the crucial moments in the game. I expect a tough match against Jordan tomorrow. We will play as a team and advance to the final, before we go all out to clinch the tournament title and return home.

FP #13 HASHIMOTO Masaya (NAGOYA OCEANS SATELLITE)
With a win today, we have clinched a place in the final four. However, I must say we are here to claim the tournament title. We will brave ourselves for the coming semi-final match and win the game.

Schedule

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

The 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Ashgabat 2017

Tournament Period：16 September 2017(Sat.) ～ 26 September 2017(Tue.)
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