The FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 went underway on Saturday 20 May as U-20 Japan National Team in Group D faced U-20 South Africa National Team at Suwon World Cup Stadium on Sunday 21.

Although ITAKURA Kou brought up a key point on the previous day, ‘It's important to get a feel for the opponents' physicality and pace from the start,’ Japan were overwhelmed by South Africa’s momentum and physical intensity early on. In the 7th minute, Thabo CELE sent a well-weighted lobbed pass for Grant MARGEMAN to time himself perfectly to beat Japan’s offside trap and control with first touch to move away from the defenders to fire a shot past the goalkeeper. TOMIYASU Takehiro rushed back in attempt to clear his shot, but could only deflect into the net for Amajita to open the scoring.

After the first goal, Japan allowed few more scoring chances, but saved by some poor finishing from the South African side to keep the scoreline unchanged. However, the young Japanese internationals also struggled to carve open the Amajita’s defence until their first chance came off a set piece, where Tomiyasu redirected the clearance from the opposing keeper in the air to find OGAWA Koki reacting to the ball quickest with a left-footed volley on the turn, but denied by the goalpost.

In spite of all the menacing attacks that Japan had to endure in the first part of the match, they started to find their rhythm as time went on as their manager UCHIYAMA Atsushi later commented, ‘We got used to opponents’ pace after 20 minutes’. Then, the golden chance for the Japanese squad came in the 30th minute, when unguarded Ogawa headed MIYOSHI Koji's left cross, but it went inches wide of South Africa's left post.

Coming out strongly from the very beginning of the match, Amajita saw their work-rate go down in the final quarter of the first half, while the Japanese side created their goal-scoring opportunities through midfielders DOAN Ritsu and Miyoshi initiating attacks from both flanks and forward IWASAKI Yuto attempting to get past the opposing defenders with his dribbling skills. However, Japan failed to convert any of those chances to level the match until halftime as well.

The scoreboard changed just after the break, as Iwasaki exchanged a wonderful one-two with FUNAKI Kakeru to run down the left flank and send a low cross to the near post, where onrushing Ogawa just had enough pace to see his shot get past the goalline and level the match for the Japanese side. In attempt to turn the score around, Japan brought on KUBO Takefusa in the 59th minute. Then moments later, Kubo threaded a superb through ball and created a one-on-one situation for Ogawa, but the opposing goalkeeper denied the scoring chance with a brilliant save just outside the box.

The young South Africans did not remain silent as well. With their pride at stake, Cele surged up the pitch on the counter and found Margeman to set up Luther SINGH for a simple tap-in from six yards out, but Tomiyasu courageously threw himself in the line of the shot and denied Amajita’s chance to score a go-ahead goal.

The jubilant moment came to the Japanese side in the 72nd minute after a wonderful exchange of passes. Substitute ENDO Keita’s cut inside to square a neat pass in the middle to Doan, who provided a one-touch pass to Kubo to the left. Then, Kubo returned a quick cut-back for Doan to fire home a left-footer into the net.

In the remainder of the match, the Japanese defender fought tenaciously against South Africa who aggressively came to look for an equaliser and held off their threatening attacks, as Tomiyasu later explained about his team’s defence, ‘We were unsettled in the first half but coped well with the opponents in the second’. Japanese coach Uchiyama praised Tomiyasu who led the whole team in keeping the Amajita from levelling the game by saying ‘the MVP of the tough stretches of the game’.

Match Report

Japan beat South Africa 2-1 to start their World Cup campaign with a victory. Uruguay also secured a 1-0 win over Italy in the match played later to level the Japanese squad with three points, but Japan claim the top spot on total goals scored.

Coach's and Players' Comments

UCHIYAMA Atsushi, Coach (U-20 Japan National Team)
It was our opening match and a very tough game as expected. However, we didn’t get unsettled even after we conceded the first goal and kept our composure to not let the opponents tack on any additional goals thereafter. Their work-rate came down towards the end of the first period, and while we were observing how they would come out after the break, we scored an equaliser. Our substitutes performed brilliantly as well. Individual skills including their speed were much better than what we had anticipated, but my players gaining such experience and coming on top the game should pick up some confidence going forward.

DF #5 TOMIYASU Takehiro (Avispa Fukuoka)
Coach Uchiyama advised us before the game, ‘There are times when everything doesn't go well and you give up the first goal’. I believe his advice helped us deal with the opponent's goal and we moved on quickly without feeling down. Furthermore, even after we gave up the opener, we were able to display our style of football by stringing passes and forcing the opponents to chase after the ball. I knew this would eventually wear the opponents down and give us the chance to score goals. As the match went on, we got used to the opponents’ speed which allowed us to cope with some of their threatening attacks in the latter part, but I wished we had done it much earlier. We will make a good preparation for the next match.

MF #7 DOAN Ritsu (Gamba Osaka)
I am simply over the moon to come out on the pitch to represent Japan and lead the team to winning a match with my goal. (Talking about the goal) Kubo and I were practising that kind of moves in training. It was a must-score situation as well, and I’m glad to have scored it. I believe this goal will put the pressure off my shoulders in the coming matches. It was a tough one today, but more importantly we fought hard to come up with a win.

FW #9 OGAWA Koki (Jubilo Iwata)
Talking about the equaliser, I'm thankful to Iwasaki for a brilliant cut-back after breaking through the opponents with his dribbling skills. I was waiting behind the defender first, but predicted that the ball wouldn't come there. I believe that quick decision making of moving up and accurate prediction of the cross led to the scoring. Furthermore, the incessant moves to find open space in front of the goal helped me score as well. Personally, I feel I can play even against any world-class opponents. Now I need to refocus my attention to the next match. I cannot wait to see what kind of play the team and I, myself, can display against them.

FW #13 IWASAKI Yuto (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
We couldn’t catch up to the opponents’ speed early on and conceded a goal. We certainly were disappointed, but we weren’t rattled as we felt ‘We can still make it’. The opponents' pace slowed down towards the end of the first half and we thought the same would happen again in the second as well. We discussed that we would continue to move the ball patiently and let the opponents run out of gas. As a team, we made the necessary adjustments during the game, and I am glad we came back to win in the second half.

Schedule

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