Training Match vs Central Club
2016-3-20 (Sun.) - 9:00   Playing Time: 12min. ×3
Copacabana Beach (Brazil/Rio de Janeiro)

Japan Beach Soccer National Team   4-2 (1st 1-0, 2nd 0-1, 3rd 3-1)   Central Club

Scores
2'   MOREIRA Ozu (Japan Beach Soccer National Team)
24'   Goal against (Central Club)
25'   Goal against (Central Club)
28'   MOREIRA Ozu (Japan Beach Soccer National Team)
34'   GOTO Takasuke (Japan Beach Soccer National Team)
35'   NAKAHARA Yuki (Japan Beach Soccer National Team)

Line-ups
GK: TERUKINA Shingo
FP: MOREIRA Ozu, GOTO Takasuke, TABATA Teruki, OBA Takaaki

Substitutes
GK: GOTO Masato, SAITO Masaki
FP: TOMA Masahito, OKUYAMA Masanori, MATSUO Naoya, AKAGUMA Takuya, NISHIGUCHI Keisuke, NAKAHARA Yuki

Match Report

The third day of the Japan Beach Soccer National Team’s Brazil trip saw the first practice game, which the team won 4-2.

The Japan Beach Soccer National Team met a local team, Central Club. Japan took the initiative from the first period, creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities. In the second minute, MOREIRA Ozu reacted to a corner kick from MATSUO, and fired in a strong volley, striking the opener.

In the second period, Japan kept possession, creating more opportunities. However, the team could not find the back of the net due to a lack of accuracy in shots or fine saves by the opponent’s goalkeeper. Then Japan conceded a goal from a mistake. The game went into halftime at 1-0.

During halftime, the coach Marcelo encouraged the players strongly. He adjusted the mindset of the players and their tactics in detail before sending them back onto the pitch. He noted: "matches in Asia may be similar to this one. We need to fix how we play."

Although at the beginning of the third period Japan let the opponent score another goal from the kick-off, Moreira Ozu struck a superb long-distance shot in the fourth minute. Then GOTO Takasuke scored from a free kick, followed by NAKAHARA’s debut goal for the national team. The team had turned the game around.

Coach and Players' Comments

Marcelo MENDES, Coach
It was good that we completely controlled the first and second periods of the game. However, we couldn’t score from our numerous opportunities, and let the opponent strike a goal from our mistake, which was problematic. Having said that, I’d like to point out that the players performed well, when you consider that they only had three practice sessions in two days after arriving in Brazil.

GOTO Takasuke (Fusion)
It’s my tenth Brazil tour, and I always love this atmosphere. I should appreciate the fact that I can play in this excellent environment. We played our first game after the World Cup today, in which I think we again showed the same problems as last year. As we only have limited time before the coming World Cup, we must seriously prepare ourselves. Personally, as I took more shots than anyone else in this team, I’d like to score more for the team.

NAKAHARA Yuki (Aveldage Kumamoto BS)
I joined the national team for the first time, and it was my first game today. When I scored my goal, as the pass from Ozu was so good, all I had to do was touch the ball. Having said that, I was honestly very pleased. I think I had many opportunities to shoot. If I had scored, we could have been more relaxed. I’d like to learn from today, contribute to team victories, and get ready for the game against Brazil.

Schedule

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