2009.6.7 Sun
Japan are the first to break through World Cup qualification
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On the 6th the Japan national team became the first team to break through qualification for the FIFA World Cup South Africa. The Japan team played away to Uzbekistan on the 6th in their World Cup Asian Final Round Qualifier and they managed to defend FW OKAZAKI Shinji’s goal to win 1-0. With a record of 4 wins, 2 draws Japan have clinched a top two finish in their group and are the fastest team in the world to qualify for the World Cup (except for hosts and automatic qualifiers South Africa).
In the 8th minute Japan national team MF NAKAMURA Kengo played the ball in behind the defenders to OKAZAKI. His left footed shot was blocked by the GK but OKAZAKI headed the rebound in himself to open the scoring. Japan were unable to score a 2nd goal, MF ENDO Yasuhito came close with a shot from a FK which hit the post, as they lost control of the second ball and therefore dominance over the match. On the other hand, the home team Uzbekistan pressured from the front and tried to equalize through aggressive play. Japan’s centre backs NAKAZAWA Yuji and TANAKA Marcus Tulio played well but as time wound down they were unable to stop Uzbekistan launching several good shots on goal. Just before the final whistle Japan MF HASEBE Makoto was sent off with a direct red card and head coach OKADA Takeshi was also sent off from the sidelines as the tension heightened. However in the face of the opposition attackers GK NARAZAKI Seigo defended his goal to the death and the match ended. Japan clinched qualification to their 4th consecutive and 4th ever World Cup finals.
After the match coach OKADA commented, saying “we have qualified for the World Cup so we are now finally standing at the start line of our goal (World Cup semi finalists). The challenges have just begun for us.”
On the 6th the Japan national team became the first team to break through qualification for the FIFA World Cup South Africa. The Japan team played away to Uzbekistan on the 6th in their World Cup Asian Final Round Qualifier and they managed to defend FW OKAZAKI Shinji’s goal to win 1-0. With a record of 4 wins, 2 draws Japan have clinched a top two finish in their group and are the fastest team in the world to qualify for the World Cup (except for hosts and automatic qualifiers South Africa).
In the 8th minute Japan national team MF NAKAMURA Kengo played the ball in behind the defenders to OKAZAKI. His left footed shot was blocked by the GK but OKAZAKI headed the rebound in himself to open the scoring. Japan were unable to score a 2nd goal, MF ENDO Yasuhito came close with a shot from a FK which hit the post, as they lost control of the second ball and therefore dominance over the match. On the other hand, the home team Uzbekistan pressured from the front and tried to equalize through aggressive play. Japan’s centre backs NAKAZAWA Yuji and TANAKA Marcus Tulio played well but as time wound down they were unable to stop Uzbekistan launching several good shots on goal. Just before the final whistle Japan MF HASEBE Makoto was sent off with a direct red card and head coach OKADA Takeshi was also sent off from the sidelines as the tension heightened. However in the face of the opposition attackers GK NARAZAKI Seigo defended his goal to the death and the match ended. Japan clinched qualification to their 4th consecutive and 4th ever World Cup finals.
After the match coach OKADA commented, saying “we have qualified for the World Cup so we are now finally standing at the start line of our goal (World Cup semi finalists). The challenges have just begun for us.”