Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Isfahan: Rafael Sakai struck twice as defending champions Nagoya Oceans kicked off the campaign in Group B of the 2015 AFC Futsal Club Championship with a comfortable 5-2 win over Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv at Nagshe Jahan Stadium on Friday evening.
Sakai’s brace ensured Nagoya went into the half-time break leading despite Sarvar Shaakhmedov cancelling out the Nagoya player’s fourth-minute opening strike.
However, second-half goals from Ryuta Hoshi, Matias Maedonchi and Pedro Costa sealed all three points before Shokirjon Khadiev claimed a consolation for Lokomotiv three minutes from time.
“The most important thing today was to win,” said Nagoya coach Victor Acosta. “It’s the first game and we were under pressure and nervous, but we were able to play well and little by little we were able to show our performance. But the most important thing was that we took the points.
“In the first half it was difficult to get behind the opponent’s defence but at half time we talked about using the width of the pitch because they were concentrated in the middle and we needed more space to attack.
“In the second half we moved the ball more and we were able to use the width of the pitch and we were able to score.”
Nagoya made a flying start to the game with Sakai claiming his first after just three minutes, running across the face of goal before hitting his left foot shot into the corner of Akmaljon Kazratkulov’s goal.
But in the 16th minute the Uzbeks levelled when Fakhod Mirakhmedov’s shot following a well-worked free kick was turned over the line by Shaakhmedov standing at the post.
Two minutes later, however, Nagoya were back in front following a move that saw Kaoru Morioka slide the ball through to Tomoki Yoshikawa and his centre was converted by Sakai.
Nagoya then doubled their lead two minutes into the second half when Hoshi struck a low shot that beat Kazratkulov to his right, and in the 32nd minute Maedonchi put the result beyond doubt when he slipped the ball below the goalkeeper.
Costa then smashed his shot home from 10 metres out before Khadiev netted a late second for the Uzbeks.
“Our team is new and I’m proud that we played as well as we did against last year’s champions,” said Lokomotiv coach Akhadjon Yusupov, whose side need to avoid defeat against Kyrgyzstan’s MFC Emgek on Saturday to stay alive in the competition.
“Only one of our players has had experience of playing at this level before.
“I can’t talk about the next game right now. but in every match we have a chance. Before we start the game the score is 0-0 but we can’t say what will be the final result.”