Played
August 1, 2012 5:00 PM BST
City of Coventry Stadium — Coventry
Referee: S. Jedidi
Attendance: 25862
August 1, 2012 5:00 PM BST
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
getty images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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JAPAN
 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.
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At the last Olympics in Beijing 2008, Japan finished bottom of their group on zero points after losing all three of their games.
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Japan have only ever won a bronze medal at the Olympic games back in 1968.
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Honduras also finished bottom of their group in Beijing after losing all three of their games.
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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.
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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
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Japan Under 23 2-0 Honduras Under 23
- 24.38 %
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Japan Under 23 1-0 Honduras Under 23
- 14.69 %
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Japan Under 23 2-1 Honduras Under 23
- 13.44 %
| Olympic Games (OLY) | 1 Aug 2012 | Japan Under 23 0 - Honduras Under 23 0 |
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Japan Under 23
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| 10 Aug 2012 | South Korea Under 23 2 - Japan Under 23 0 | OLY |
| 7 Aug 2012 | Mexico U-23 3 - Japan Under 23 1 | OLY |
| 4 Aug 2012 | Japan Under 23 3 - Egypt U-23 0 | OLY |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Japan Under 23 0 - Honduras Under 23 0 | OLY |
| 29 Jul 2012 | Japan Under 23 1 - Morocco U-23 0 | OLY |
Honduras Under 23
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| 4 Aug 2012 | Brazil Under 23 3 - Honduras Under 23 2 | OLY |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Japan Under 23 0 - Honduras Under 23 0 | OLY |
| 29 Jul 2012 | Spain U-23 0 - Honduras Under 23 1 | OLY |
| 26 Jul 2012 | Honduras Under 23 2 - Morocco U-23 2 | OLY |
| 3 Apr 2012 | Honduras Under 23 1 - Mexico U-23 2 | OCaf |
| 23 | Shuichi Gonda | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Maya Yoshida | Defender |
| - | Taisuke Muramatsu | Defender |
| 3 | Gotoku Sakai | Defender |
| 13 | Daisuke Suzuki | Defender |
| 7 | Yuki Otsu | Midfielder |
| - | Kazuya Yamamura | Midfielder |
| - | Takashi Usami | Midfielder |
| 16 | Hotaru Yamaguchi | Midfielder |
| 9 | Kenyu Sugimoto | Striker |
| 15 | Manabu Saito | Striker |
| 18 | Shunsuke Ando | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Yuhei Tokunaga | Defender |
| 3 | Takahiro Ogihara | Defender |
| 4 | Hiroki Sakai | Defender |
| 10 | Keigo Higashi | Midfielder |
| 8 | Hiroshi Kiyotake | Midfielder |
| 11 | Kensuke Nagai | Striker |
| 1 | J. Mendoza | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | W. Crisanto | Defender |
| 3 | Maynor Figueroa | Defender |
| - | J. Velásquez | Defender |
| 16 | J. Leverón | Defender |
| 7 | Mario Martínez | Midfielder |
| 12 | A. Mejía | Midfielder |
| - | A. Najar | Midfielder |
| 17 | Luis Garrido | Striker |
| 9 | A. Lozano | Striker |
| - | J. Bengtson | Striker |
| 18 | F. Reyes | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | H. Colón | Defender |
| 10 | A. López | Defender |
| - | O. Peralta | Defender |
| 15 | A. Peralta | Midfielder |
| - | R. Espinoza | Midfielder |
| 13 | E. Hernandez | Striker |
| Kensuke Nagai | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 11 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
The 23-year-old striker impressed in the Asian side’s win over the Spanish and his late winner against Morocco will have given him the confidence to face a tough Honduras defence.
Nagai's 30-yard lob in his last outing showed that he has the necessary composure in pressure situations, and he will hope to find further opportunities to evidence his class.
Nagai's 30-yard lob in his last outing showed that he has the necessary composure in pressure situations, and he will hope to find further opportunities to evidence his class.
| J. Bengtson | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 0 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
The New England Revolution striker appears to be the player who can cause the Japanese the most problems in this crucial group decider.
His strength in the air will make him a threat from set pieces and, after seeing him score in both games so far, Japan will have to watch him closely if they want to keep their unbeaten run going.
His strength in the air will make him a threat from set pieces and, after seeing him score in both games so far, Japan will have to watch him closely if they want to keep their unbeaten run going.
Honduras know that a point will see them through whilst Japan have already qualified for the next round but still have a chance to finish the group on top with maximum points.
Both sides seem evenly matched in terms of style and, with both teams opting for a counterattacking style in their last two games, a draw seems the most likely outcome.
Both sides seem evenly matched in terms of style and, with both teams opting for a counterattacking style in their last two games, a draw seems the most likely outcome.
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leandro Damião Striker Internacional |
6 | 0 |
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Moussa Konaté Striker Krasnodar |
5 | 0 |
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O. Peralta Striker Santos Laguna |
4 | 0 |
|
Giovani dos Santos Striker Mallorca |
3 | 1 |
|
Neymar Striker Barcelona |
3 | 1 |
