In the early morning hours of July 28, a thrilling match came to an end in the second round of the men's soccer group stage at the Paris Olympics. The Japanese national Olympic team defeated the Malian national Olympic team by a narrow 1-0 margin, locking up a spot in the knockout rounds ahead of schedule.
Japan's goalkeeper Reio Ogikubo was the lynchpin in this crucial battle, making three heroic saves, two of them inside the penalty area. With a score of 7.3 out of 10, he ranked second in the team's post-game ratings, and it was his outstanding play that helped the team break into the Olympic knockout rounds for the first time without an overage player.
Speaking about the victory, Reio Ogikubo said in an interview, "Simply put, I wanted to do my best to contribute to the team. I'm filled with joy that I helped the team advance with two consecutive shutouts.
"Even though my opponent got a penalty kick in the last minute, my teammates were always behind me, giving me strength and encouragement. They told me that I wouldn't be alone even if the penalty kick went in. Combined with my determination to make the save and the support of my teammates, these emotions intertwined to make me smile before making the save."
"Before the Olympics started, we knew we were the only team with no overage players, so we unanimously decided to make new history. There is joy in everyone's heart to get out of the tournament a round early."
