Our walk was cancelled, and we departed from the lodge after breakfast.
<Today's Match Result: 7th Place Playoff vs. Hanoi FC, 10:00 AM Kickoff>
First half 0-0
Second half 2-0
Total 2-0
Goal scorers: Fukuhara, Chen
Man of the Match: Fukuhara
Starting Lineup
GK: Chiba FP: Okita, Ishii, Fukuhara, Kobayashi, Ueki, Murayama, Ito, Funazaki, Ishizu, Chen
Substitutes: Iizuka, Fuchigami, Kikuchi
We haven't won a single match in this tournament. Coach Isozaki rallied the team, urging us to unite our strengths and secure a victory to end the tournament.
Our entry into the game was in good shape, as it has been in the last few matches. We were able to consistently connect passes without rushing, and when targeting the space behind the defense, we frequently utilized long feeds to send our forwards through.
In the first half, we created good opportunities, breaking through from the flanks and taking shots from crosses. However, we couldn't convert our chances in critical moments, and the half ended scoreless. Despite the unfavorable momentum, we took the lead early in the second half with a brilliant header from Fukuhara from a corner kick opportunity.
The second half's strategy was similar to the first, building attacks from the flanks with secure passes and creating chances. In the 61st minute, FW Chen, making his first start in this tournament, scored an impressive header from a free kick near the goal line, extending our lead.
After that, we managed the game well, fending off the opponent's attacks with tenacious defense and seeing out the match. We secured our first victory in this tournament, finishing in 7th place with a record of 1 win, 1 loss, 1 penalty shootout loss, and 2 draws.
In the afternoon, we went to Guangzhou R&F Stadium to watch the final match. We departed from the lodge at 2:30 PM, but due to traffic, the match had already started when we arrived, and we watched from the second half onwards.
The match saw Banfield chasing Spartak Moscow, who led 2-0 in the first half. In the second half, Banfield scored from a corner kick and continued to attack, eventually equalizing. Although Spartak then had a player sent off, the match went to a penalty shootout, which Spartak Moscow won 4-2.
At the final awards ceremony, Kashima Antlers received the Fair Play Award. Captain Ishizu accepted the trophy on behalf of the team.
After the match, everyone involved had dinner at a hotel near the stadium.
