The selection of Japan thrashed 4-1 against Paraguay in a friendly match played this Thursday in the Japanese city of Sapporowhere the locals imposed an electric rhythm led by Kamada and left little choice White-haired.
The Asians took a match that gave them preparation for the Qatar World Cupwhere they will compete in the same group as spain in the initial phase, and for which it has failed to qualify Paraguay.
The “blue samurai” began very involved in the match played in front of their fans at the stadium Sapporo Domein Hokkaidoin the north of the country, and in the first eleven minutes of play they added up to three clear chances with a long shot by Doan, a shot from a corner and a shot at the post by Kamada.
The mobility of the Japanese generated a sense of danger near the Paraguayan area, although as the first half progressed the defense led by Alderete and Zárate settled down and blocked the spaces better.
Riveros He starred in the visitors’ first dangerous shot from outside the area and forced the Japanese goalkeeper to dive. At minute 30 she warned again Richard Sánchezwith a free kick close to the post that Schmidt saved with another worthwhile intervention.
But it was the Japanese who took the lead in the 36th minute with a subtle shot from Asano after a pass between the lines of Haraguchiand far from settling down, they continued to push and look for the second against a rival who couldn’t find a way to react.
Just six minutes after the scoring opened, it made it 2-0 through a header from Kamada, who got ahead of the center backs and hit the cross from Doan’s right. The Eintracht Frankfurt player was a constant nightmare for the South American defense.
The Japanese coach Hajime Moriyasu He introduced several fresh men at the break that allowed them to maintain the offensive intensity, against a Red-and-White who was still overwhelmed by the dizzying pace imposed by her rival and who had to resort to fouls to bail out waters.
Derlis Gonzalez starred in what seemed like a Paraguayan reaction in the 59th minute, with a dry shot from the edge of the box that made it 2-1. It was of little use, since on the next play Mitoma received a pass from Haraguchi only inside the area and had all the time in the world to control, look at Rojas and put the ball out of his reach and the score was 3-1.
Schelotto Muds sought fresh air by bringing on Jesús Medina, Ángel Romero and Ángel Cardozo Lucena, when there were still more than 25 minutes left to play.
The Japanese persisted in their harassment and achieved a penalty committed by Rojas on Mitoma, but the Paraguayan goalkeeper stopped the shot from Doan. The Japanese striker from PSV Eindhoven was replaced by Takefusa Kubo, a star of the “Samurai” who entered to the acclaim of the Sapporo public.
Despite Japanese rule, Paraguay It was close to 3-2 in a poor clearance by the Japanese defense when they tried to stop Cardozo Lucena, although the locals scored the fourth in the 85th minute with a shot by Tanaka against which Rojas could have made more.
Japan He still had up to three more clear chances in a match that ended up becoming too long for the Albirroja.
After this friendly in Japan, the Paraguayan team will travel to South Korea, where they will play another match with the national team of that country on the 10th, while the “blue samurai” will face Brazil in Tokyo, on the 6th.
DATASHEET:
4. Japan: Schmidt; Ito, Taniguchi, Yoshida (Nakayama, m.46), Yamane; Haraguchi (Tanaka, m.62), Endo (Itakura, m.46), Kamada; Mitoma (Furuhashi, m.82), Doan (Kubo, m.71) y Asano (Maeda, m.46).
1. Paraguay: Santiago Rojas; Blas Riveros, Omar Alderete, Luis Zárate, Alan Benítez; Andrés Cubas, Richard Sánchez (Ángel Cardozo Lucena, m.66), Óscar Romero (Jesús Medina, m.66), Miguel Almirón; Gabriel Ávalos (Ángel Romero, m.66) and Derlis González.
Goals: 1-0, m.36: Asano. 2-0, m.42: Kamada. 2-1, m-59: González. 3-1, m.60: Mitoma. 4-1. m.85: Tanaka.
Referee: Christopher Beath (AUS). He admonished Alderete (m.44) and González (m.55).
Incidences: Friendly match played at the Sapporo Dome stadium, before some 42,300 spectators.
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