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Played
August 1, 2012 5:00 PM WAT
City of Coventry Stadium — Coventry
Referee: S. Jedidi
Attendance: 25862
August 1, 2012 5:00 PM WAT
City of Coventry Stadium — Coventry
Referee: S. Jedidi
Attendance: 25862
Japan 0-0 Honduras: Sekizuka's side finish top of Group D as Hondurans set up Brazil clash in quarters
The Samarai Blue had already sealed their progress and ensured they pipped the Central Americans, who got the point they needed, to first place in the group
By Enis Koylu
Getty Images
A dull 0-0 draw was enough for both Japan and Honduras to move into the quarter-finals of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Takashi Sekizuka's men had already sealed their place in the quarter-finals, but went into the match knowing that defeat to the Hondurans would consign them to second place in the group. Honduras meanwhile, knew that a point would see them through thanks to their unlikely victory against Spain on matchday two.
And it was Luis Suarez's men who started the brighter of the two sides, immediately setting out in pursuit of an early goal shortly after kick-off, and winning a series of corners, none of which came to fruition.
However, while the Central Americans were lively going forward, their Asian opponents were looking dangerous. Gotoku Sakai made an excellent interception on the quarter-hour mark and wasted no time in spraying the ball to Yuki Otsu, who strode forward and unleashed a shot straight at Jose Mendoza.
At the other end, Anthony Lozano superbly brought the ball forward from his own half, dodging a series of challenges, but could only direct a long-range strike high and wide under pressure from a number of defenders.
Manabu Saito then went on a mazy run through the Honduras half, only to drag an effort well wide, before Sakai drove narrowly wide of Mendoza's goal, while Kenyu Sugimoto had a header blocked at point-blank range by Johnny Leveron.
Five minutes from the break, though, it was Luis Fernando Suarez's side who had the best chance of the half. Jerry Bengtson, the hero of his side's previous two fixtures, superbly brought down a high ball on his chest, shrugged off his marker and prodded a shot towards goal that Shuichi Gonda did well to block.
Maynor Figueroa forced another save from the FC Tokyo goalkeeper soon afterwards with a driven free kick that took a heavy deflection off a Japanese body, ensuring a stalemate going into the interval.
As at the start of the first-half, both teams began the second period at a good pace, but found it desparately difficult to carve out any clear-cut chances.
Sugimoto had an ambitious effort easily saved by Mendoza, but in truth, neither goalkeeper faced any real challenges for much of period after the break.
Honduras were happy to concede free-kicks to hamper Japan as they looked to set up camp in midfield, and on one occasion, they almost paid for it.
Anticipating a cross, Mendoza crept off his line as Takashi Usami lined up a free-kick on the left wing. The former Bayern Munich winger overhit his delivery, forcing the 23-year-old keeper to pedal backwards and acrobatically tip the ball over his bar.
Another Usami set piece found Kazuka Yamamura at the far post, but Mendoza managed to dive to his right to stop the 22-year-old's goal-bound header ensuring the match would end goalless.
Takashi Sekizuka's men had already sealed their place in the quarter-finals, but went into the match knowing that defeat to the Hondurans would consign them to second place in the group. Honduras meanwhile, knew that a point would see them through thanks to their unlikely victory against Spain on matchday two.
And it was Luis Suarez's men who started the brighter of the two sides, immediately setting out in pursuit of an early goal shortly after kick-off, and winning a series of corners, none of which came to fruition.
However, while the Central Americans were lively going forward, their Asian opponents were looking dangerous. Gotoku Sakai made an excellent interception on the quarter-hour mark and wasted no time in spraying the ball to Yuki Otsu, who strode forward and unleashed a shot straight at Jose Mendoza.
At the other end, Anthony Lozano superbly brought the ball forward from his own half, dodging a series of challenges, but could only direct a long-range strike high and wide under pressure from a number of defenders.
Manabu Saito then went on a mazy run through the Honduras half, only to drag an effort well wide, before Sakai drove narrowly wide of Mendoza's goal, while Kenyu Sugimoto had a header blocked at point-blank range by Johnny Leveron.
Five minutes from the break, though, it was Luis Fernando Suarez's side who had the best chance of the half. Jerry Bengtson, the hero of his side's previous two fixtures, superbly brought down a high ball on his chest, shrugged off his marker and prodded a shot towards goal that Shuichi Gonda did well to block.
Maynor Figueroa forced another save from the FC Tokyo goalkeeper soon afterwards with a driven free kick that took a heavy deflection off a Japanese body, ensuring a stalemate going into the interval.
As at the start of the first-half, both teams began the second period at a good pace, but found it desparately difficult to carve out any clear-cut chances.
Sugimoto had an ambitious effort easily saved by Mendoza, but in truth, neither goalkeeper faced any real challenges for much of period after the break.
Honduras were happy to concede free-kicks to hamper Japan as they looked to set up camp in midfield, and on one occasion, they almost paid for it.
Anticipating a cross, Mendoza crept off his line as Takashi Usami lined up a free-kick on the left wing. The former Bayern Munich winger overhit his delivery, forcing the 23-year-old keeper to pedal backwards and acrobatically tip the ball over his bar.
Another Usami set piece found Kazuka Yamamura at the far post, but Mendoza managed to dive to his right to stop the 22-year-old's goal-bound header ensuring the match would end goalless.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In WAT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leandro Damião Striker Internacional |
6 | 0 |
|
Moussa Konaté Striker Krasnodar |
5 | 0 |
|
O. Peralta Striker Santos Laguna |
4 | 0 |
|
Giovani dos Santos Striker Mallorca |
3 | 1 |
|
Neymar Striker Santos |
3 | 1 |