Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riffa: Coach Atsushi Uchiyama was delighted with Japan’s 4-0 win over Tajikistan in their AFC U-19 Championship Bahrain 2016 quarter-final match on Monday, as the team qualified for the semi-finals for the first time since 2006.
A brace from striker Koki Ogawa and goals from Ritsu Doan and Yuto Iwasaki either side of half time gave the Samurai Blue an unassailable lead in a game they dominated.
The result ends a run of four editions without a semi-final appearance in the competition, and with it a ticket to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017.
“I’m really happy with the players’ performances tonight,” said Uchiyama. “We haven’t passed this stage in the last four tournaments, but today we not only passed this stage but the players did really well. It was a really good game.
“I just want to thank all my players and I want to say congratulations to the whole team. I’m just really happy right now."