MUSCAT, October 20: Asian Games gold medallists Japan got into winning form with a 2-0 victory over South Korea in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here on Saturday.
Recovering from their three-goal loss to Malaysia in the tournament opener on Thursday, Japan’s goals came through penalty corner conversion by Shota Yamada in the 18th minute and an open field strike by Wataru Matsumoto in the 51st. Yamada was adjudged Hero Player of the Match.
Japan dominated the proceedings but faltered in adding to Yamada’s goal due to mistakes upfront. Japan’s captain, Genki Mitani said his team should have converted the chances into more goals. “We’re happy with the victory, but should have scored more goals,” said Mitani, who was pleased by the performance of his young players.
“Our young players may have erred in fully executing the game-plan but they gave a fine display,” he said.
Siegfried Aikman, Japan’s coach, expressed satisfaction in the manner the boys went all out looking for goals until the end. “We were stepping up all the time and kept playing an attacking game,” Aikman said. “The youngsters may have made some errors in their enthusiasm, but they played an enterprising game, maintained focus and created chances.”
“We were so much stronger that we should have scored more goals,” he added.
