[FIFA Futsal WC] United States 1-1 Japan
United States 1-1 Japan: Tozer cherishes the moment
(FIFA.com) 25 Nov 2004
The first draw of the FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese Taipei 2004
eventually proved enough for the USA to progress to the second group stage.
It was a tremendously tense game - and even the final whistle didn't provide
relief for US coach Keith Tozer's men, who had to wait on court for two
minutes to hear their fate.
"That sure was a tough match - Japan are a great team who have improved as
the tournament has gone on. We're relatively new to futsal so this is a great
accomplishment for our team. We were carried by our great defence and keeper
Brett Phillips. We're the underdog and my team now needs to rest and cherish
this moment," Tozer said afterwards.
The US coach had been concerned that a Japan side who had lost both of their
opening matches would be more relaxed for this one. Certainly Japan played
with a free-flowing style but the USA matched them with their organisation
and strength.
The goal which separated the sides at half-time came courtesy of a dreadful
mistake by Japanese captain Kenta Fujii. Hesitating on the half-way line, he
allowed Andy Guastaferro to nick the ball and run unchallenged to slot the
ball past Hisamitsu Kawahara. The big Japanese keeper did well to get
something on it but the ball trickled home.
Brett Phillips was preferred in goal for the States after his impressive
display against Paraguay and he was often called upon to keep Kenichiro
Kogure at bay - one particularly fine save with his feet in the second half
proved vital.
Japan continued to make the prettier passing patterns, the US relying on
their strength, running power and organisation. They should have doubled
their lead early in the second half when Guastaferro strode forward, his
shot seemed to be running perfectly into the path of Lee Tschantret but he
somehow managed to turn it against the post from a yard out.
As the match wore on and the States bench looked increasingly harassed and
Japan piled on the pressure. The US held out manfully, semi-circling their
defenders like wagons around Phillips. They were breached once when Kogure
turned in an Osamu Nambata cross-shot. But with news coming through of
Paraguay's defeat, the tournament's first tied game was enough for the States
to progress, and perhaps repeat their efforts the last time the World
Championships were held in Asia - when they reached the final in Hong
Kong 92.
Japan coach Sapo was full of praise for all aspects of his team except one
- the finishing: "We played much better in this game especially in the second
half. I couldn't ask any more of my players, I am very proud of them. It was
just a shame we couldn't provide the end product for all our hard work."
---
新聞網頁:
http://www.fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,104292,00.html?articleid=104292
--
『 你們聽見有話說：「以眼還眼，以牙還牙。」只是我告訴你們，不要與惡人作對。
有人打你的右臉，連左臉也轉過來由他打；
有人想要告你，要拿你的裏衣，連外衣也由他拿去；
有人強逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里；
有求你的，就給他；
有向你借貸的，不可推辭。 {馬太福音 5.38～42} 』
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 218.169.11.185
J-League 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
