Classy Kyrgyzstan chalk up 16-4 win over Japan
|Image: Anita Milas
Kyrgyzstan and Japan played out an entertaining match on Day 5 of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup which ended with the Central Asian nation recording a 16-4 victory.
Kyrgyzstan exploded out the blocks and took the lead with their first attack on goal, before a long ball found a Japan player in space to slot home to make it 1-1.
A Kyrgyzstan shot cannoned off the post, before the Japan goalkeeper was called in to action early, blocking a strike with his feet which came after a well-worked Kyrgyzstan move.
With Kyrgyzstan pressing, a goal was chopped off after a player crept inside the box in the build-up, before some nice passing play from one flank to another saw Kyrgyzstan go ahead.
|Image: Anita Milas
Two good finishes off further attacks in quick succession saw Kyrgyzstan stretch their lead to 4-1, before a strong shot from distance by a Japan player in their second attack on goal saw them cut the deficit to 4-2.
A sweet finish off some quick passing play saw Kyrgyzstan restore their three goal advantage, before a silky move saw a Kyrgyzstan player strap a long pass and slot cooly home to make it 6-2.
|Image: Anita Milas
Kyrgyzstan then got their seventh of the match shortly after, following a fantastic tackle to prevent a Japan player from pulling the trigger after their jinking run got bums off the seats in the stands.
A toe-poke finish just after half-time saw Kyrgyzstan move into an 8-2 lead, before a long ball from the Japan goalkeeper found a player in space to respond almost instantaneously to make it 8-3.
With the match opening up further, a trio of attacks and some quality finishing saw Kyrgyzstan extend their lead to 11-3, with a Japan chance for their fourth missed after a shot over the bar.
Japan’s goalkeeper made a strong right-handed save to prevent a twelfth Kyrgyzstan goal, before a side-foot finish off a quick attack and a sweet strike from distance saw Kyrgyzstan move to 14-3 ahead.
|Image: Anita Milas
Kyrgyzstan soon slotted home their 15th of the game, before a right-foot finish saw Japan score their fourth as the clock wound down. In the dying seconds, Kyrgyzstan found the net once more to end the game winners by 16 goals to four.
Speaking after the match, Kyrgyzstan coach Toлoeb Makcat said: “Overall the competition is very good and Korea is a great host. The organisation and the facilities are also very good.
We have a friendly exchange with the other teams, such as Mexico and Colombia, and we will maintain these friendships until the end of the tournament.
“We are also finding enjoyment by performing well on the pitch and we hope that in our next match we also perform to a high level.”
Words: Craig Williams
Images: Anita Milas