Japan defied the odds and beat a much-fancied Spain 1-0 at Hampden Park yesterday. The Japanese were helped by a first half dismissal but the victory could have been even more emphatic.
Spain started the game as one of the favourites to win Olympic gold, and starting with a team that included David De Gea, Juan Mata and Jordi Alba in the line up you could see why.
However straight from kick off it was clear that Japan were not there simply to make up the numbers – they were much the sharper of the two teams and more than matched their illustrious opponents in the skill department too.
In a fairly even first half it was Japan who made the breakthrough when Spain’s failure to deal with a routine corner cost them dear. Ogihara’s corner found the unmarked Yuki Otsu who outmuscled a powder-puff challenge from Montoya and coolly slotted home.
Spain’s plight was made worse just minutes from half-time when Martinez was sent off and there was no way back for the Spaniards in the second half.
The Japanese missed a hatload of chances in the second half and only some great goalkeeping and poor finishing denied Japan a winning margin of five or six goals – and that would not have flattered Japan.
A crowd of 37, 726 watched the match, and if many had come along to see the Spanish stars in action many will have left as ardent Japan supporters – the neutrals were won over and certainly got behind the Sumurai Blue during the course of the game!
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