Japan booked their place at Wembley – for an Olympic semi-final against Mexico – by whipping Egypt in another legendary stadium – Old Trafford. Over 70,000 fans crowded into Manchester United’s “Theatre of Dreams” to see Japan’s dream continue as they strive to at least equal the performance of their predecessors in 1968.
Kensuke Nagai opened the scoring early on – Hiroshi Kiyotake won the ball from a dawdling Egyptian midfield and, without even looking uo, it seemed, whipped a long cross field ball between the defenders and goalkeeper for Nagai to steam in and nick it past the keeper as he collided with his defender. He then swept it into an empty net, although not without being hacked from behind by Hegazi, coming in way too late! The injury suffered while scoring the goal was to force Nagai off minutes later – he was replaced by Manabu Saito. It was Saito who had the next major impact on the game when he latched onto a through ball in the 41st minute and was taken out from behind by Saadeldin Saad on the edge of the area. Again it was Kiyotake instigating the move, finding Keigo Higashi, who’s through ball was perfectly placed for Saito. The defender saw red and was off for an early shower! Another yard and it was a penalty, but it was just a Takahiro Ogihara free kick, that flew safely into the arms of Egyptian keeper Ahmed Elshenawi, and the score remained 1-0 in Japan’s favour at half time.
The 2nd half saw complete control from Japan, although they left it late to add to the scoring. Firstly Maya Yoshida headed home a right-sided Kiyotake free kick in the 79th minute – totally unmarked as he sprinted to the near post space. Then, just a couple of minutes later, Yuki Otsu powered home a header from a left wing Ogihara cross to make it 3-0, game over. Japan could have added to the score in the dying minutes, not least from a Takashi Usami blast that stung the keeper’s fingers with, literally, the final kick of the game.
So Japan move into the semi-final to play a team they know they can beat – as they indeed did – pre-Olympic tournament! And the last time Japan played Mexico at the Olympics – in 1968, a bronze medal ensued. While I would have been happy with a bronze medal before the games began – and said so, to anyone who would listen that Japan would make the last four with ease – I can’t help thinking that the predicted JSoccer.com-predicted Japan v. Brazil final could still be on the cards and, in a one-off final game, anything can happen. Japan WILL be confident, and think they can beat anyone – but let’s work on Mexico first!
The only downside to the Egypt destruction was injuries to Nagai (dead leg?) and Higashi (looked like a pulled muscle near the end)….. will Japan be forced to make changes to this winning team? Watch this space.
