Thailand 5s International 4 Nation Futsal Championship 2016 1st vs Thailand Futsal National Team
2016-8-20 (Sat.) - 18:15 Playing Time: 40min. (20min.×2)
Bangkok Arena (Bangkok/Thailand)

Japan Futsal National Team   2-2 (0-1, 2-1)   Thailand Futsal National Team

Scores
4'   Goal against (Thailand Futsal National Team)
22'   NIBUYA Kazuhiro (Japan Futsal National Team)
38'   Goal against (Thailand Futsal National Team)
40'   SHIMIZU Kazuya (Japan Futsal National Team)

Starting Five
GK: IWANAGA Taiki
FP: MINAMOTO Akira, UEMATSU Koto, UDAGAWA Yuto, WAKIYAMA Ren

Substututes
GK: SAKA Keisuke
FP: NIBUYA Kazuhiro, YONEDA Yoshitaka, SHIMIZU Kazuya (Cap.), ITO Keita, OBATA Kiichi, YAMAGIRI Shogo, MATSUBARA Tomohiro, YAMADA Jiei

Match Report

The Japan Futsal National Team faced the Thailand Futsal National Team on Friday 20 August in their first match of the Thailand 5s International 4 Nation Futsal Championship 2016 at Bangkok Arena in Thailand. Thailand are one of the Asian powerhouses, reaching third place in the AFC Futsal Championship in February of this year and grabbing a spot for the FIFA Futsal World Cup to be held in September.

Thailand went aggressively for a goal from the start of the match with their momentum at home. Japan could not halt their attacking energy, giving up an opening goal in the 4th minute. Japan tried to come back then. In addition to swift attacking after winning the ball, experienced players such as MINAMOTO Akira and NIBUYA Kazuhiro showed their presence by leading the team. Japan gradually got back their rhythm but failed to break through the Thailand defence before the first half finished.

In the second half, Nibuya beat a defender with skilled ball-controlling and fired an equaliser with his left foot in the 22nd minute. Then, the match saw both teams showing a close match and struggling to score an additional goal. Yet in the 38th minute, Thailand went in front. With the goal, the stadium was full of cheers from home fans, and it was an atmosphere where they had no doubt Thailand would win the match.

Even so, Japan proved themselves with only 30 seconds remaining from time when they earned a right corner kick. After the ball from Minamoto hit an opponent and rolled to the front of goal, SHIMIZU Kazuya's left-footed strike put his team level. After a highly heated battle, the match came to a dramatic end. Japan will take on Kazakhstan on Sunday 21 August in their second match.

【Thailand 5s International 4 Nation Futsal Championship 2016】
Sat. 20 - 18:15 △2-2 vs Thailand
Sun. 21 - 15:30 vs Kazakhstan
Tue. 23 - 17:00 vs Iran
Venue : Bangkok Arena
*Local Time

Coach and Players' Comments

SUZUKI Ryuji, Coach
My players seemed tensed a bit as it was our first match, but we got off to a great start as the new national futsal team and also for the young players. But what we were able to do and what happened today doesn't necessarily happen tomorrow again. Thailand, as the same Asian country, were similar to us in terms of size and height, but the next opponents Kazakhstan are a team who've got enough ability to win through the European qualifiers. It's a very good experience to play against the opponents who've got a different physical size and structure. I will try to analyse the opponents and tell my players about my game plan even in the short period of time.

FP #11  SHIMIZU Kazuya (FUGADOR SUMIDA)
Even in a completely away atmosphere, our style of futsal is gradually forming in a way we are aiming at. At the same time, the match reminded me of how important every single goal is. We are trying to be on the same page as a team and keep working hard to bring out our individual strength.

FP #10  NIBUYA Kazuhiro (VASAGEY OITA)
As long as we play as the Japan national team, the results mean everything. It's disappointing we couldn't get the result we wanted, which is a victory. We will improve the quality of play in tomorrow's Kazakhstan match and try to win as a team.

Schedule

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