M. Husain got second yello card.... (against Takahara...) Is Takahara okay? how many times he was bumped on head??
Bahrain's not threatening and Japan is up, but the boys in blue look anemic on offense. If this continues, they will get shellacked in Germany.
39' That corner from Nakamura looked better, more pace (like we've seen from Santos), but then follows with a loping fluff-ball that nobody's going to be able to head with force into the goal.
FT 1-0 Japan. Two decent shots by Bahrain in the last five minutes could have tied it, which frankly is unacceptable.
Let me be the first to congratulate you on your win... you needed this, and with NK out of the competition it's how it's suppose to be now... with Iran and Japan topping the group... although, a late own goal is not much to boast about so I guess Japan needs to do way better than this when they are playing against Bahrain in Bahrain!
Nakata: "The only objective in this game was to get 3 points. I'm pleased with this win." Welcome back, Hide. I think his performance in this 3-5-2 was quite good tonight. Japan should have score a few more goals, but it was much better than the North Korea game.
Japan D: offsides trap worked well all night to cut out the longball threat. Japan O: using Suzuki as a target man is not a good strategy. He doesn't win balls consistently and his touch is suspect. He's liable to lose the ball, and he doesn't find his teammates. Japan looked much better when their wingers beat a player or two off the dribble. Don't like the set play offense. The gap in skill was big between Japan and Bahrain, but Japan won't be able to count on wingers running through defenses or on Suzuki as a target man (lol) against quality sides, especially quality sides with size. Any thoughts?
Shut up iran. still happy about the fluke wins? Your luck has run out. Watch out or we will spank your weak team 5-0 the next time Anyway, I love the way the grassrollers lost. They paid their own stupidity. Somebody needs to punch that goalkeeper to fix his issue.
When was the last time Alex did something good for Japan? He's been pain in the ass for long time. Kaji was just as usual and useless though. I still don't understand why that idiot is still in the national team and Zico's obsession to him. For the sake of Japan, it's time for Kaji to retire from the national team by himself or no one will get rid of him
Time-wasting. Same reason Alex got a really stupid yellow well into extra time. 3pts is 3pts I guess.
Ouch, a win is a win, but by an own goal at home... I guess Zico's luck is still holding - but mission accomplished, I guess.
I believe Japan x Bahrain was played at same rate that S.K. played against Kuwait.Of course Japan deserved 3 points,but I don't see an easy game at Bahrain.And IMO Japan really need to improve when we talk about scoring.Bahrain is Bahrain,but at WC when Japan could face teams like Argentina,Brasil or even Portugal/Czech with consistent attacks,something bad will occour.
Japan created lots of chances tonight by dominating the midfield and crushing Bahrain counterattack in the midfield. Hopefully, we'll see better goals in the Kirin Cup.
They won't beat a real team like Japan unless they fullly commit to grassrolling. They finally failed today deservingly. At least, they gave us 5 minutes injury time so should be happy about that.
Nahhh. Alex has been giving good crossess beautifully, an idiot is Suzuki who always wastes them. Don't blame it on Alex. I'll not oppose that.
Congrats to Japan, Zico must have a nice lucky potion he uses before every game, he must have lost it though in Iran's game.