On April 17, Japan beat China by a narrow 1-0 margin in the first round of Group B of the U23 Men's Asian Cup and Olympic Preliminary Round. The official website of the Japan Football Association (JFA) today released a summary of post-match interviews with three players, including head coach Tsuyoshi Oiwa and player Jusei Matsuki.
Skipper Tsuyoshi Oiwa analyzed, "Although we were passive and defensive for a long period of time in the first half, the players' performance was still noteworthy. In the second half, we quickly adjusted our tactics and sought to put pressure on our opponents. Although we had prepared various scenarios before the game, we were decisive in making substitutions according to the actual situation. In training, we focused on scoring goals quickly and did quite well in real life."
Goalkeeper Reio Kogubo said, "We were unfortunate to be one player short, but after Takaya Nishio was sent off, the whole team united and worked hard to fill the gap and try not to concede any points. As a goalkeeper, I focused on guarding the goal and gradually helped the team by neutralizing dangerous situations. Our three goalies usually learn from each other, and if our teammates play, they will do their best as I did. I look forward to our progress together."
Defender Daiki Sekine said, "It's a valuable experience accumulation for me to get the chance to play today, as I am inexperienced in international matches. Although the result of the match was unexpected, my teammates still tried to show their characteristics in the face of adversity. Although the match was tough, we worked together and gave our best, which made me feel that I am in a good team."
According to striker Jusei Matsuki, "Taking the lead was a big advantage of the game. We also had a strategy to leave the field early beforehand, so we weren't anxious during the game. Thanks to the chances created by my teammate Fonki Yamada, I just had to match his passes and watch the opposing defenders' positions to break through easily. Against more passive defenses, the key is to seize the moment and put the ball into the opponent's goal."
