Tokyo Olympics: Japan edge New Zealand on penalties to seal semi-final berth

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Japan edge New Zealand on penalties to seal semi-final berth

Ibaraki: Japan kept their hopes of a medal in the Tokyo Olympics Men's Football alive on Saturday as Hajime Moriyasu’s side squeezed into the semi-finals when they notched up 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over New Zealand after being held to a 0-0 draw by the Oly Whites to set up a last four meeting with Spain.

Maya Yoshida hit the decisive penalty at Kashima Stadium after Liberato Cacace had seen his spot-kick saved by Kosei Tani and Clayton Lewis had fired over the bar to end New Zealand’s hopes of advancing to Tuesday’s semi-finals.

Moriyasu’s team had been unable to find a way past New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud during 90 minutes of regular time and the 30 minutes of extra-time despite dominating possession and controlling the tempo for much of the game.

But Tani’s save in the second round of spot-kicks and Yoshida’s cool-headedness took them to a win they deserved on the balance of play and which should have been assured long before the end of regulation time.

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Tokyo Olympics: Moriyasu shifts Japan's focus to Spain after New Zealand nail-biter

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Moriyasu shifts Japan's focus to Spain after New Zealand nail-biter

Ibaraki: Head coach Hajime Moriyasu was left breathing a huge sigh of relief as he turned his focus to Tuesday’s Tokyo Olympics Men's Football semi-final against Spain after Japan emerged from a penalty shoot-out to see off New Zealand at Kashima Stadium.

Captain Maya Yoshida hit the decisive penalty to earn Japan a 4-2 shoot-out win over the OlyWhites after the two nations had shared a goalless 120 minutes in their quarter-final on Saturday.

Tokyo Olympics: Defeat hard to accept, admits Kim after Korea Republic's elimination by Mexico

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Defeat hard to accept, admits Kim after Korea Republic's elimination by Mexico

Yokohama: Kim Hak-bum could not hide his disappointment after Korea Republic were blown away by an on-song Mexico as a 6-3 loss at the Yokohama International Stadium on Saturday saw them exit the Tokyo Olympics Men's Football tournament at the quarter-finals. 

The East Asians began the match as the top scorers in the competition but it was 2012 gold medalists Mexico who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute through Henry Martin before Lee Dong-gyeong levelled in stunning fashion eight minutes later.

But the Ulsan Hyundai man's equaliser did not swing the momentum the Koreans' way as a lovely strike from Luis Romo and a Sebastian Cordova penalty had the Mexicans 3-1 up at the interval.

Dick Advocaat appointed Iraq head coach

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Dick Advocaat appointed Iraq head coach

Baghdad: Iraq Football Association announced on Saturday the appointment of Dutchman Dick Advocaat as the head coach of the Iraq national team.

The 73-year-old Advocaat, who replaces Srecko Katanec, returns to Asia for the third time as a national team head coach after previously managing United Arab Emirates in 2005 and Korea Republic in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals.

Tokyo Olympics: Australia’s Matildas chasing history in semi-final showdown with Sweden

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Australia’s Matildas chasing history in semi-final showdown with Sweden

Yokohama: Australia have already gone further than ever before at a major global tournament, but the opportunity to make more history will be there for the taking when they face Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics Women's Football semi-final on Monday.

Coming into the tournament without a win in over a year, and having been less than two minutes away from elimination in Friday’s gripping quarter-final against Great Britain, Tony Gustavsson’s side are not just still alive, but one win away from guaranteeing themselves a first ever Olympic football medal.

Tokyo Olympics: Kerr delighted after Australia prevail in Kashima classic against Great Britain

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Kerr delighted after Australia prevail in Kashima classic against Great Britain

Ibaraki: Australia’s Sam Kerr was full of joy after her side pulled off a sensational 4-3 extra-time win over Great Britain in their Tokyo Olympics Women's Football quarter-final on Friday.

Trailing 2-1 with less than two minutes remaining, the Matildas stayed in the contest thanks to last-gasp Kerr equaliser, setting the scene for a wild, seesawing period of extra time at the Kashima Stadium.

Tokyo Olympics: Australia's Fowler living her dream

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Australia's Fowler living her dream

Ibaraki: “I’m overcome with emotion – I’m so proud that we won, and to score my first goal at the Olympics is an incredible feeling,” a breathless Mary Fowler said, after having celebrated – at great length – Australia’s historic victory over Great Britain in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics Women’s Football Tournament on Friday. 

In a roller coaster match that had to be seen to be believed, the precocious forward came off the bench with 10 minutes to go and made a significant impact shortly afterwards by scoring in extra time to give the Australians a 3-2 lead.