2009.9.10 Thu
The Japan national team come from behind to beat Ghana: International friendly match
On the 9th in Utrecht, Holland, Japan played an international friendly match versus Ghana who have already confirmed there place at next year’s FIFA World Cup South Africa coming from behind to win 4-3.
In the first half Japan created some good chances against Ghana who were weak under pressure but in the 31st minute DF NAGATOMO Yuto was whistled for a handball from an opposition right CK and Ghana were awarded a PK. FW Asamoah GYAN scored to open the scoring. Then in the 47th minute GYAn scored again to make it 0-2.
However, in the 53rd minute MF NAKAMURA Kengo poked in a loose ball in front of goal with his left foot to reduce the deficit to one. In the 66th minute they were powerless to stop an opposition long ball and the score was 1-3 but that was when the dramatic comeback started. In the 70th minute FW TAMADA Keishi and MF HONDA Keisuke were brought in as simultaneous substitutes and in the 78th minute NAGATOMO won the ball on the left goal line and cut it back in the centre. TAMADA was on hand to hit an excellent left footed shot in to the right side of the goal and cut the deficit to one once more.
One minute later fellow substitute MF INAMOTO Junichi’s left sided cross found FW OKAZAKI Shinji who managed to just spring the offside trap and score the equalizer with his head. Japan’s momentum couldn’t be stopped and in the 83rd minute NAGATOMO cut in from the left and slipped a through ball to INAMOTO who tucked his right footed shot within the left post to give his side the go ahead goal. They managed to preserve this one goal lead until the final whistle. A valuable win for Japan against a big African side who they may very well run into at next year’s World Cup.
In the first half Japan created some good chances against Ghana who were weak under pressure but in the 31st minute DF NAGATOMO Yuto was whistled for a handball from an opposition right CK and Ghana were awarded a PK. FW Asamoah GYAN scored to open the scoring. Then in the 47th minute GYAn scored again to make it 0-2.
However, in the 53rd minute MF NAKAMURA Kengo poked in a loose ball in front of goal with his left foot to reduce the deficit to one. In the 66th minute they were powerless to stop an opposition long ball and the score was 1-3 but that was when the dramatic comeback started. In the 70th minute FW TAMADA Keishi and MF HONDA Keisuke were brought in as simultaneous substitutes and in the 78th minute NAGATOMO won the ball on the left goal line and cut it back in the centre. TAMADA was on hand to hit an excellent left footed shot in to the right side of the goal and cut the deficit to one once more.
One minute later fellow substitute MF INAMOTO Junichi’s left sided cross found FW OKAZAKI Shinji who managed to just spring the offside trap and score the equalizer with his head. Japan’s momentum couldn’t be stopped and in the 83rd minute NAGATOMO cut in from the left and slipped a through ball to INAMOTO who tucked his right footed shot within the left post to give his side the go ahead goal. They managed to preserve this one goal lead until the final whistle. A valuable win for Japan against a big African side who they may very well run into at next year’s World Cup.