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| 2010 FIFA World Cup |
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| Fuming Macala slams players |
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| Bahrain coach Milan Macala will be without six players through injury and suspension for the must-win clash with Australia. (AFP) |
MANAMA: Despondent Bahrain coach Milan Macala criticised his side after seeing them go down 3-2 to Japan in their opening match of the final round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Shunsuke Nakamura gave the visitors the lead in the Group One clash with a 17th-minute free-kick before Yasuhito Endo doubled the lead from the spot shortly before the break.
When Kengo Nakamura’s deflected strike made it 3-0 with six minutes to go, it seemed Japan had sewn up all three points but Salman Isa’s clinical finish and an own goal from Marcus Tulio Tanaka ensured a nervy finale for Takeshi Okada’s men.
It was a particularly disappointing outcome for Macala given they had defeated the same opponents 1-0 at the same venue nearly six months previously.
“I’m not happy about this result,” said Macala.
“Japan didn’t create one opportunity at all but we helped them with mistakes.
“We lost the game because we didn’t play well in the first half. This is our problem. We came on to the field with a big respect for Japan. I don’t know why.
“You know our experience from the last time when we beat Japan. We said we were changing. Our spirit was out there.
“But what I saw was different people and different reaction from my players. Once it was 1-0, they controlled the game better and this created psychological problems for us.”
Japan coach Okada, on the other hand, praised his side’s determination on what was a sweltering evening in Manama.
“I’m delighted that our players worked hard in this heat to collect three points,” he said.
“We panicked during the last 10 minutes when we gave away two goals. But this could be a best way to win the game for us as, more than the goal difference, we were able to learn something from the game.”
Asked about his side’s shaky performance during the last 10 minutes, Okada added: “The outcome of the game can change with a small mistake.
“If you lose your focus, this can happen. On top of that, our substitute players didn’t fulfil their duties. It’s football.”
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