The second round of the Olympic men's soccer group stage was played in the early hours of the morning, with Japan's national Olympic team beating Mali's national Olympic team by a narrow 1-0 margin to lock up a spot in the knockout rounds ahead of schedule.
Japanese goalkeeper Reio Ogubo played a key role in the victory, making three saves in the match, two of which occurred inside the dangerous penalty area. He was second only to his captain in the post-match ratings with a high score of 7.3, helping Japan, which has no overage players, break through the Olympic knockout stage threshold for the first time.
Facing the interview, Reio Ogikubo revealed, "My thoughts are simple: I fully support the team. It's a great relief to have two consecutive shutouts to help the team advance.
"Even though the opponents were given a penalty kick opportunity at the last minute, the support of my teammates convinced me that it didn't matter even if the ball went in. Combined with my strong determination to make the save, the encouragement and care from my teammates, these emotions intertwined to make me stifle a smile before making the save."
"Before the Olympics started, we knew we were the only team without overage players. Therefore, we were united in our determination to make new history, and to get out of the tournament ahead of schedule filled everyone's heart with joy."
