Ho Chi Minh City: Japan’s Shriker Osaka opened the AFC Futsal Championship Vietnam 2017 in style after securing a commanding 5-1 victory over Shenzhen Nanjing on Thursday.
It was the Chinese side, however, who came roaring off the blocks, creating the game’s first chance in the opening two minutes with Islamic Republic of Iran international Peyman Hafizi finding enough space for a low-driving shot which forced a fine save from Shriker custodian Soichiro Kakihara.
Shrugging off their nervy first few minutes, Shriker then came close to opening their account when Brazilian import Arthur De Oliveira delivered a perfectly weighted pass for Yuki Tamura but the striker’s looping header produced a fine save from Shenzhen goalkeeper Cheng Yingqiang.
The Japanese side continued to exert their authority as the half continued and were duly rewarded with the opener when Shinobu Aii found Shota Horigome, who made no mistake from close range.
The Chinese side, unfazed, hit back immediately after some outstanding work from the middle by Li Jianjia found Hafizi who squeezed the ball past an outstretched Kakihara.
Shriker then took the lead again at the half way mark of the first half with Aii again the provider. This time, the midfield maestro displayed quick footwork and strength before assisting Nobuya Osodo, who flicked deceptively past Cheng.
With less than five minutes remaining, Shriker further extended their lead when Arthur picked the ball from a scramble in his own half to race towards the Shenzhen goal before unleashing a thunderous shot beyond a hapless Cheng.
Arthur almost doubled his tally in the closing minutes of the first half when he dispossessed an inattentive Hafizi of the ball but his powerful effort was denied by the woodwork.
The Japanese side began the second half the same way they ended the first, going close to increasing their lead with Arthur and Aii combining telepathically only to see the Brazilian’s right-foot effort whisker past Shenzhen’s goal.
Shriker then got the fourth after Cheng’s sliding clearance from an oncoming Toru Sato fell kindly onto the path of Sota Shibano, who slotted into an empty Shenzhen net. And there was still time for Sato to cap a highly impressive second half from the Japanese champions, connecting neatly from Osodo’s defence splitting pass from the middle for Shriker’s fifth.
Shenzhen have the opportunity to salvage their chances of a quarter-final berth when they meet Iranian giants Giti Pasand Isfahan on Saturday. Shriker will be hoping to continue their phenomenal start when they face the same Iranian opponents on Monday.
Kenichiro Kogure (Shriker Osaka Head Coach)
“This is the very time we have played in this competition so naturally the players were a bit nervous, especially in the first half. But overall, I think we can be very proud of the way we played and I am happy with this result. Now we need to rest, and spend the next few days studying Giti Pasand carefully as part of our preparations.”
Barth Felix Rodrigues (Shenzhen Nanling Head Coach)
“The first two goals after it was 1-1 killed us. It was very hard to recover from the first half. In the second half, we tried to push forward and press higher, but we didn’t take our chances and were exposed at the back. Osaka deserved their victory. Now we have to give everything against Giti. There is no other way, it is the only way.”
Source: the-afc.com