Japan mesmerize, down UAE in AFC U-16 Championship to pick U-17 World Cup berth

PANAJI: Japan came up with an explosive performance of free-flowing football that left United Arab Emirates flustered in their AFC Football Championship India 2016 quarterfinal clash. Such was their domination that they forced over a dozen corner kicks only to sneak home with a solitary goal win (1-0) at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim on Sunday.
Considered the next “Golden generation” of footballers, this Japanese team stamped their class with sublime passing.From defence to attack, their co-ordination and build-ups was silken smooth. They used the entire width of the field to spread-eagle UAE with crisp flow of ground passes that appeared to have an accuracy of over 90 percent.
Kubo Takefusa was the pick among the Japanese players. He was eclectic with his dribbling skills, often weaving his way past a host of players before finding his teammate with a slick push or crisp, low ball. There was never a dull moment each moment he had the ball at his feet. Sometimes, it was simply magical. Tanahashi Akito too was brilliant upfront with skipper Fukuoka ShimpeiKida Hinata and Hirakawa Rei in midfield looking simply irresistible.
Japan appeared to test the waters for the first 10 minutes before their magical passing bouts unfolded. They threatened to pull down the UAE citadel on five occasions before getting a breakthrough in the 30th from their fourth corner kick.
Kubo sent the ball curling into goal near the second post that forced goalkeeper Alhareth Salem to leave his comfort zone to collect the ball. But all he managed was to block it before it ricocheted off his hands to defender Seko Ayuma who only had to tap it into the net.
Kubo and Tanahashi had been denied twice each earlier by the goalkeeper.
Japan were total in their domination and though the UAE defence stood tall, the never-ending raids only left them frustrated. The only golden moment that slipped through their hands was in the 75th minute when skipper Majid Rashid picked a neat long ball from the right and slammed goalwards. The effort forced goalkeeper Tani Kosei to bring off a brilliant save as leaped to palm the ball skywards. The ball landed at the feet of striker Ali Saleh who was pulled up for offside by the referee Mooud Bonyadifar.
Japan could have gone up 2-0 by the 81st minute when they were awarded a penalty after striker Taisei was brought down in the box by stopper Sultan Saeed. But Taisei found the fingertips of a diving goalkeeper Salem before the ball kissed the upright and was cleared by a defender.
“We created a lot of chances and could have scored more goals but we played well, so I am happy and proud of my players,” said the Japanese coach Yoshiro Moriyama.
“In football, there is a winner and a loser. I congratulate Japan, they are a very good team. We tried hard but could not get the breakthrough,” said Abdelmajeed Al Nemer, the UAE coach at the post match media briefing.