Squirrels fail university test in Japan cup
Reuters - Monday 10 October 2011, 10:13
Japanese top flight club Omiya
Ardija were humiliated by university students after being beaten
on penalties in the second round of the Emperor's Cup on Monday.
Fukuoka University produced one of the biggest upsets in
recent times in Japanese football by holding their nerve in a 5-3 shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
Midfielder Kyohei Kuroki swept home the decisive kick after
former Japan international Chikara Fujimoto had hit the post to
complete a shock comeback for the college side.
Kota Ueda gave Omiya the lead in the 70th minute with a
superb free kick but the J-League's 'Squirrels' were pegged back
within two minutes by a Tomohiro Tanaka volley.
"We're pathetic," Omiya midfielder Daigo Watanabe told
Japanese media. "We just let them ping long balls at us and it
was an accident waiting to happen."
Fukuoka coach Masahiro Inui gushed: "The players were
fantasic. They kept cool in the penalty shootout and really did
us proud."
Vissel Kobe avoided a similar embarrassment in the only
other match involving a J-League first division club by pulling
the plug on amateurs Electric Sumoto 8-0.
Emperor's Cup holders Kashima Antlers play Tsukuba
University on Wednesday.