Played
August 2, 2012 2:00 AM EST
City of Coventry Stadium — Coventry
Referee:‬ S. Jedidi‎
Attendance:‬ 25862‎
 

Japan - Honduras Preview: South Americans hoping to book quarter-final place

The Hondurans blew the group wide open after a shock 1-0 victory over Spain and face a side who have already sealed their place in the last eight of the Olympics

By Tom Bradley

More On :  Honduras U-23, Japan U-23, Japan U-23 vs Honduras U-23
Olympics: Jerry Bengtson, Spain v Honduras
getty images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

JAPAN
Japan Under 23
Gonda
Tokunaga, Hiroki Sakai, Yoshida, Suzuki
Ogihara, Higashi, Yamaguchi
Otsu, Nagai, Kiyotake
HONDURAS
 
Mendoza
Leveron, Velasquez, Lopez, Figueroa
Peralta, Martinez
Mejia, Espinoza, Najar
Bengtson

Japan appear likely to name the same side which beat Morocco 1-0 last time out as they look to top their group with a 100 per cent record.

Striker Kensuke Nagai will likely keep his place after his late goal sealed the win for the Blue Samurai on Sunday.

However, following their incredible 1-0 win over tournament favourites Spain, Honduras have proved they will be tough to break down.

Alfredo Mejia could come into the side to add an extra body in coach Luis Suarez’s midfield, as a point will ensure that the South Americans go through.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Japan are one of two teams who have a chance to qualify from their group with a 100% record, with Brazil also currently on six points.

  • At the last Olympics in Beijing 2008, Japan finished bottom of their group on zero points after losing all three of their games.

  • Japan have only ever won a bronze medal at the Olympic games back in 1968. 

  • Honduras also finished bottom of their group in Beijing after losing all three of their games.    

  • Jerry Bengtson (pictured right) is the top scorer for Honduras and joint top scorer of the competition so far with three goals along with Senegal’s Moussa Konate.

  • Honduras have never won a medal at the Olympic games and have only ever competed three times at the games in Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Japan U-23 2-0 Honduras U-23
    24.38 %
  • Japan U-23 1-0 Honduras U-23
    14.69 %
  • Japan U-23 2-1 Honduras U-23
    13.44 %
Head to Head
Olympic Games ‎(OLY)‎ 02/08/2012 Japan U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Japan U-23
11/08/2012South Korea U-23 2 - Japan U-23 0OLY
08/08/2012Mexico U-23 3 - Japan U-23 1OLY
04/08/2012Japan U-23 3 - Egypt U-23 0OLY
02/08/2012Japan U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 0OLY
30/07/2012Japan U-23 1 - Morocco U-23 0OLY
Honduras U-23
05/08/2012Brazil U-23 3 - Honduras U-23 2OLY
02/08/2012Japan U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 0OLY
30/07/2012Spain U-23 0 - Honduras U-23 1OLY
26/07/2012Honduras U-23 2 - Morocco U-23 2OLY
03/04/2012Honduras U-23 1 - Mexico U-23 2OCaf
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
23Shuichi GondaGoalkeeper
5Maya YoshidaDefender
-Taisuke MuramatsuDefender
3Gotoku SakaiDefender
13Daisuke SuzukiDefender
7Yuki OtsuMidfielder
-Kazuya YamamuraMidfielder
-Takashi UsamiMidfielder
16Hotaru YamaguchiMidfielder
9Kenyu SugimotoStriker
15Manabu SaitoStriker
18Shunsuke AndoGoalkeeper
2Yuhei TokunagaDefender
3Takahiro OgiharaDefender
4Hiroki SakaiDefender
10Keigo HigashiMidfielder
8Hiroshi KiyotakeMidfielder
11Kensuke NagaiStriker
-J. MendozaGoalkeeper
4W. CrisantoDefender
3Maynor FigueroaDefender
-J. VelásquezDefender
16J. LeverónDefender
7Mario MartínezMidfielder
12A. MejíaMidfielder
14A. NajarMidfielder
17Luis GarridoStriker
9A. LozanoStriker
-J. BengtsonStriker
18F. ReyesGoalkeeper
4H. ColónDefender
17A. LópezDefender
-O. PeraltaDefender
15A. PeraltaMidfielder
-R. EspinozaMidfielder
13E. HernandezStriker
Results
Matchday 3
Times In EST
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Leandro Damião Leandro Damião
Striker
Internacional 		6 0
Moussa Konaté Moussa Konaté
Striker
Krasnodar 		5 0
O. Peralta O. Peralta
Striker
Santos Laguna 		4 0
Giovani dos Santos Giovani dos Santos
Striker
Mallorca 		3 1
Neymar Neymar
Striker
Santos 		3 1