Japan, after a quiet first half scored 8 goals in the 2nd half to win 11-0 against Bhutan while a thunderstorm forced the Nepal v Sri Lanka match to be abandoned after 37 minutes in the South Asia – Japan U16 Football Exchange Tournament at the Race Course International Stadium.
Sri Lanka rally past Bhutan; Japan trounce Nepal
Sri Lanka came from a goal down to defeat Bhutan 5-2 while Japan annihilated Bhutan 9-0 in the South Asia…
Japan v Bhutan
Japan opened the scoring as early as in the 2nd minute when they dispossessed Bhutan off a throw in and the inform Nakano Keita scored the opener.
Japan scored back to back goals in the 7th minute with Sumi Koshiro volleying from a cross and Yoshida Yuji adding the 3rd within seconds of the restart.
After the initial shock Bhutan recovered to not concede anymore goals in the 1st half largely thanks due to a few brave saves from Bhutan’s goalkeeper Tenzin Dorji. In the 24th minute he made a diving save of a low ball from Yuji and made another 7 minutes later.
He then went onto brilliantly deny Nakano in a one on one situation and made two more saves at his near post and off the goal line.
Half Time – Bhutan 0 – 3 Japan
Japan started off the 2nd half like they did the 1st as Nakano added his 2nd in the 47th minute after going through on goal. Kondo Kraba made it 5-0 when he controlled a ball well over the defence to finish past Dorji.
Substitute Araki Ryotaro scored with a wonderful finish drilling the ball to the right bottom corner as Bhutan substituted Dorji with Dendup Namgyel between the sticks.
Namgyel too had a good game with a few saves but there was no denying a barrage of Japan attacks. Ryotaro tapped in from close range off a Nishikawa Jun cross. There after Jun dinked the ball over the goalkeeper to get a deserved goal.
Kraba and Nakano added two more before Jun finished off the scoring with a thunderous finish from the edge of the box.
Full Time – Bhutan 0 – 11 Japan
Goal Scorers
Japan – Nakano Keita 2’, 47’ & 75’, Sumi Koshiro 7’, Yoshida Yuji 7’, Araki Ryotaro 55’ & 56’, Kondo Kraba 51’, 73’ & 90’, Nishikawa Jun 64’
Sri Lanka v Nepal
In a match where heavy rain fell Sri Lanka had the better of the chances with Mohamed Murshid being the chief tormentor as he created a chance for Mohamed Shabeer who could only hit the side netting after Murshid cutback from the byline in the 30th minute.
Seven minutes later Sri Lanka went on a counter attack as Murshid raced forward. With his defenders off their lines the goalkeeper Roshan Thapa came charging off his penalty box to clear but Murshid got to it first but his 35 yard shot could only rattle the up-right before it was cleared to safety.
Soon after the rain and thunder grew heavier and referee Ashantha Dias took the players off the field and subsequently the match was called-off.
