Courtesy: The AFC.com


Japan coach happy despite futsal loss to Italy

Saturday, 26 September 2009

OSAKA: Japan squandered a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 Italy in a futsal match on Thursday.

The Japanese had drawn 0-0 with Italy one day earlier in Nagoya and appeared to be heading towards victory in the second clash.

The home side went into a ninth minute lead after a melee from Shota Hoshi’s low cross saw the ball end up in the Italian net.

Wataru Kitahara, of Nagoya Oceans, then gave Japan a 2-0 lead before the Italians, third at the last FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil, hit back quickly.

Goals from Fabricio Carderolli, Marcelo Moreira and Vinicius Omori Duarte helped them to a 3-2 half-time lead.

Marcio Forte made it 4-1 to Italy in the 23rd minute before Japan’s former AFC Futsal Player of the Year Kenichiro Kogure completed the scoring in the 36th minute.

Miguel Rodrigo, Japan’s Spanish coach, said the first 10 minutes was the best Japan have ever played under him.

“We showed that we have progressed,” he said. “They played my favourite type of futsal, especially in the first 10 minutes when they played such a high-quality game, I couldn’t ask for better.”

Italian coach Roberto Menichelli was impressed by Japan’s performance and said they are fast gaining on Asia’s number one team, Iran.

“They play quality futsal,” he said.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com