Japan U22s pass Olympic test in Kuwait
Reuters - Friday 24 June 2011, 01:54
TOKYO - Japan's under-22 coach Takashi
Sekizuka admitted his side had survived a real fright in baking
Kuwait before squeaking into the final round of 2012 Olympics
qualifiers.
"I'm so relieved to go through," the 50-year-old told
Japanese media on Friday after Japan lost 2-1 on the night but
squeezed past Kuwait 4-3 on aggregate.
Goals from Hamad Aman and Yousef Nasser gave Kuwait victory
in Thursday's second leg but Japan held on to win despite a
fierce late barrage from the home side.
"The players gritted their teeth and got the job done," said
Sekizuka, whose side are bidding to qualify for a fifth
successive Olympics in London next year.
"That was a punishing experience but the players kept
battling. Regardless of the performance I'm proud of them for
how they fought and coped with the heat."
With temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius at kickoff,
Japan ultimately wriggled through courtesy of Hiroki Sakai's
superb 21st-minute chip, which opened the scoring.
Japan, who beat Kuwait 3-1 in the home leg, were also
grateful for a heart-stopping late save by goalkeeper Shuichi
Gondo which prevented the game going to extra-time.
"Kuwait came at us guns blazing but 20 minutes into the
second half, I thought we had more left in the tank than them,"
claimed Sekizuka, at ease having been saved the stress of an
extra 30 minutes.
The final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics
begins in September, involving the region's top 12 sides.