‘Samurai Blue’ Japan drew with Uruguay at home. Joker Nishimura scored the equalizer in the second half. Uruguay failed to keep Valverde’s opening goal.
Japan’s national soccer team A (20th in FIFA rankings) recorded a 1-1 draw in a friendly A match against Uruguay (16th) at the Tokyo National Stadium on the 24th.
Today’s match was an underwater battle. It was the first A-match between the two teams since the Qatar World Cup held in December last year. Japan advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, and Uruguay, which was in the same group as Korea, did not pass the group stage. At that time, they drew 0-0 with Korea in the group stage.
In the 2nd minute of the first half, winger Mitoma (Brighton), who is receiving a lot of attention in the EPL this season, broke through the dribble and opened the attack with a shot. From the start of the game, Japan made it difficult for Uruguay to build up from the back by pressing forward strongly.
Japan went with a 4-2-3-1 formation. They put Asano in the front line, Mitoma-Kamada-Doan in the back line, Morita-Endo as defensive midfielders, Seko-Ito-Itakura-Sugawara in the back four, and goalkeeper Schmidt. Yoshida and Tomiyasu, who were the main center backs of the Japanese national team, were not selected for the A-match this March.
Uruguay also responded with pressure. In the midfield, strong pressing prevented Japan from developing an attack. Uruguay faced off with a 4-3-3 formation. They sent Felistri-Gomes-Rosi to the front, Vecino-Ugarte-Valverde to the back, Olivera-Bueno-Coates-Gonzalez to the back four, and Rochet the goalkeeper. Uruguay did not bring in experienced strikers Suárez and Cavani, nor defender Godin, this time around. It was the beginning of a generational shift.
Japan mainly dug into the left flank where Mitoma was located. They used Mitoma’s quick feet and smooth dribbling. In the 18th minute of the first half, Mitoma led a quick counterattack. In the 21st minute of the first half,
Asano’s shot, which received Sugawara’s penetrating pass, hit the side of the goal and hit the ground.
Uruguay didn’t run smoothly in the first half. Japan’s pressure and defense balance was very stable. The Uruguay players seldom created or penetrated the space. He was pushed back in a back fight and lost the ball. However, Uruguay took the lead in the 38th minute. Real Madrid multiplayer Valverde performed a ‘one man show’. Valverde’s shot hit the Japanese goal, but Valverde ran back and put it in his head. Valverde is a familiar figure to Korean soccer fans. In the Qatar World Cup group stage match against Korea, he tackled Lee Kang-in and then performed an uppercut ceremony. In the Spanish La Liga game against Mallorca last February, he also fought back after making a back tackle on Lee Kang-in. The first half ended with Uruguay leading 1-0.
Early in the second half, Uruguay took the initiative in attack. The pass connection of the Uruguay players was very smooth. They advanced well, releasing the strong pressure from Japan.
In the 8th minute of the second half, Asano had a chance to shoot in a counterattack situation, but the force was weak and ended in vain. Japanese coach Moriyasu pulled out a replacement card in the 15th minute of the second half. He changed the attack by putting Junya Ito and Ueda as jokers at the same time. Instead, he summoned Asano and Doan. After Ito entered, the Japanese attack on the right flank came to life. In Japan, Ito got a PK in the 20th minute of the second half, but the referee overturned the decision after an on-field review and the PK flew.
In the 23rd minute of the second half, Uruguay strengthened the midfield with Torres and Canovio.
Japan, which was drawn 0-1, continued to dig into the left and right flanks. Japan even put in Tanaka and Nishimura to tighten the reins of the attack. Japan scored an equalizer (1-1) in the 30th minute of the second half, with joker Nishimura less than a minute into the game. Junya Ito’s cross was kicked by Nishimura.
In the 39th minute of the second half, Uruguay’s decisive shot hit the post and hit the ground. On the other hand, Japan breathed a sigh of relief. Both teams finished the match 1-1 with no further goals. 온라인카지노
Japan will have its second friendly against Colombia at home on the 28th. Uruguay will come to Korea and have an A match against Klinsmann at the Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8:00 pm on the 28th.