The Colombian Beach Soccer Team debuted in the World Cup against Japan, which has just been runner-up in the last tournament and thanks to the goals of Takuya Akaguma (2′), Ozu Moreira (19′) and Takaaki Oba (26′) They managed to keep the three points and lead Group C complemented by Belarus and Senegal, the national team’s next rival on Sunday, February 18 (10:30 am).
“We knew the opponent we were facing, we prepared in the best way and we are convinced that we are going to get ahead in the two upcoming games,” said Julio Pantoja, scorer of Colombia’s second goal, after finishing the match.
Akaguma surprises Colombia in the first period
He lasted just 2 minutes Colombia the impetus with which the Japanese started, who took the lead on the scoreboard thanks to a bicycle kick from Takuya Akaguma that was impossible for Alejandro Quintero to save after the ball hit before reaching the goal.
After the Japanese scored, Colombia took control of the ball and ended up generating more scoring chances, but none of them were convincing to beat Yusuke Kawai. Acosta, Ossa and Morales were the ones who attempted the most with several shots that were not aimed.
Esleider Ávila discounts penalty
For the second half (12 minutes), Colombia went out to look for an equalizer, but first came the second goal for Japan. A powerful shot from Ozu Moreira’s own field, the Japanese-nationalized Brazilian took advantage of the space and time he had to try and nailed it into the corner of the goal defended by Quintero (19 ‘).
Moreira himself at 22 minutes (10′ of the second period) committed a foul that the Salvadoran referee, Gonzalo Carballo, declared as a penalty and which Esleider Ávila converted into a goal to make it 1-2 and become the first player to score for Colombia. in a Beach Soccer World Cup. With that score they went to the third period.
Colombia errs criminally and now thinks about Senegal
In the third period Japan quickly expanded the lead through Oba, the player received assistance from goalkeeper Kawai to beat Quintero once again. At 1-3, the Asians relaxed a little and with the need, Colombia continued to insist to find a way back into the game.
At 34′ Takumi Uesato committed another foul near his area that the referee whistled as a penalty and Rafa Acosta was awarded the penalty. Colombia’s number 7 preferred power and goalkeeper Kawai took advantage of the bailing space he had to close the shooting angle of the player, who ended up kicking the body of the Japanese who sent it to the corner kick.
After the missed penalty, Colombia did not give up and with one minute left Pantoja appeared to score the second goal after a great individual play in which he evaded the mark and defined. In the end, there was not enough time to equalize and now those led by Santiago Alzate will have to go out on Sunday to beat Senegal and get the first three points of the competition.
Colombia statistics against Japan
- Shots: 47
- Goals: 2
- Archery shots: 17
- Chileans: 13
- Possession: 46%