Defending champions Japan proved to strong for Malaysia, running out 4-0 winners in their Group D opener.TASHKENT – Takashi Usami scored twice as defending champions Japan scored two goals in each half in a 4-0 thumping of Malaysia in their opening Group D match in the AFC U-16 Championship on Sunday.
Gaku Shibasaki opened the scoring at MHSK stadium with a superb strike after 32 minutes and Usami doubled the advantage for the defending champions two minutes later as the Japanese took a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Substitute Takumi Miyayoshi added a third in the 65th minute before Usami netted his second of the game five minutes later to complete the rout.
Japan went on the offensive from the opening whistle and had their first opportunity after only three minutes as Usami’s free-kick from the left was headed wide by Ryuki Nakajima.
The Japanese had another chance four minutes later when Shibasaki received a long pass in the box and attempted to chip the ball over the advancing Malaysian goalkeeper only to send the ball wide.
Malaysia’s best opportunity early on fell to Mohammad Saidin, who headed a Mohamad Fandi cross from the left against the crossbar.
The chances continued to stack up as Malaysia goalkeeper Zulfadhli Bin Mohamed did superbly to deny Keisuke Kanda in the 23rd minute while at the other end, Saarvindran Devandrn sent a shot wide two minutes later.
However, Japan were not to be denied just after the half-hour as Shibasaki launched a long-range missile from 30 yards, which sailed past Zulfadhli into the top right corner of the Malaysian net.
Usami extended the advantage with a fine individual effort two minutes later, beating three Malaysian defenders before firing home a shot from outside the area to make it 2-0.
Malaysia had a good start to the second half and should have pulled a goal back four minutes after the break when Saarvindran’s cross from right was headed wide by Gary Steven.
But the Japanese added a third five minutes after the hour when substitute Miyayoshi scored with his first chance, beating defender Mohammad Saidin before firing the ball into the far right corner of the net.
Japan sealed their win five minutes later as Usami pounced on a half clearance by the Malaysian defence before firing a powerful low shot past a helpless Zulfadhli.
Source:The AFC.com
