NEWS

Japan romped over the Solomon Islands 7-2 at Gimnasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia on Saturday to pick up their first ever win in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Following a shocking 12-1 defeat at the hands of hosts Brazil in their opener four days ago, Japan showed they had recovered well.
Yuki Kanayama opened the scoring for Japan in the third minute, and Kenichiro Kogure struck in the 10th minute before Yusuke Komiyama made it 3-0 off a Kanayama pass two minutes later.
But Yoshifumi Maeda accidentally sent a clearance into his own goal in the 18th minute, and Japan then quickly allowed the World Cup newcomers from the Pacific Islands to add another goal through Ron Ginio.
Japan faced a number of counter-attacks in the second half, but goalkeeper Hisamitsu Kawahara protected his goal well. The 29-year-old ’keeper then set up a Kenta Fujii goal in the 23rd minute. Five minutes later, Nobuya Osodo followed with his second strike of the tournament, helping Japan widen the lead to 5-2.
Yusuke Inada and Osodo found the target again in the 32nd and the 39th minutes, respectively, to wrap up the game.
  “We showed the good part and bad part of our game, but winning counts,” Japan coach Sergio Sapo said.
Japan, currently third in the five-team Group A with a 1-0-1 win-draw-loss record, will play Cuba on Monday in Brasilia before meeting Russia on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro in their quest for a berth in the second round.
Group leaders Brazil beat Russia 7-0 for their second win. Russia, Japan and Cuba are tied on three points. The Solomon Islands (0 points) are bottom.