Japan celebrated a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in the quarterfinals of the 8th Men’s Junior Asia Cup at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium.
The Japanese are now through to next year’s Junior World Cup for the third time since 1997 by virtue of qualifying for Saturday’s semi-finals against India. Only the top four teams here qualify for the New Delhi Junior World Cup.
“My players were extremely bothered by the heat and made a slow start against Bangladesh. Honestly, we suffered in finding the first goal,” said Japanese Head Coach, Takahiko Yamabori. “Now we are very excited and happy to have reached the semi-finals and World Cup.”
“But sadly Japan will be without nine players, including team captain Hiromasa Ochiai, from the current squad for the 2016 Junior World Cup as all of these players will be ineligible to compete due to age limit. The Junior World Cup is an Under-21 tournament,” said Takahiko.
Backed by motley fans numbering around 50, the Japanese and Bangladeshis got off to a gruelling start with both sides struggling to find their footing until Hiromasa netted the first goal 21 minutes into the match from open play.
That goal lifted the Japanese but certainly did not demoralise the Bangladeshis who mounted counter attacks through Milon Hossain and Roman Sarkar, earning three penalty corners but goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa was simply in his element to thwart all of them.
Japan returned in the second half looking far more dangerous and manipulative, keeping the game well under wraps. A brace from Shota Yamada (68th and 69th minutes) was enough to take Japan to the 2016 Junior World Cup and they truly deserve it.