England beat Japan 5-3 in penalty shootout to qualify for the quarter-final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017. After a goalless draw at the end of 90 minutes, the Young Lions sealed the game in the penalty shootout converting all their five spot kicks.
England gaffer Steve Cooper made six changes in the starting XI from the previous match. Callum Hudson was brought back in place of Jadon Sancho along with Philip Foden. Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes once again wore the captain’s armband and played right behind Rhian Brewster who led the line.
Yoshiro Moriyama too made numerous changes in the starting XI following their disappointing draw against New Caledonia. Former La Masia player Takefusa Kubo came back into the starting lineup.
It was an end to end affair for the first 20 minutes of the match. The Young Lions slowly took charge of the game and started dominating the game. The first major chance came for Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster in the 26th minute. Philip Fodenset up the striker beautifully on the right edge of the penalty box and Brewster unleashed a thunder striker at goal. Unfortunately, his shot struck the bar post before
Japan went into defensive mode as England started upping the ante. Striker Kubo did not get any support from his teammates in the first half as he was isolated up top. Nakamura was completely off-colour as he failed to trouble the English defenders from the right flank.
The first major chance for the Samurai Blue came in the 37th minute when Taiei Myashiro entered the box from the right side and sent a diagonal pass for Nakamura. Nakamura attempted a shot at goal but the ball was deflected and fell into the feet of Soichiro Kozuki on the left who struck the side netting.
Blue Samuria coach Moriyama made a crucial substitution in the second half as he introduced Naoki Tsubaki in place of out of form Nakamura. Tsubaki’s introduction revitalised the Japanese attacks.
Kubo got better support once Tsubaki came in as the former Barcelona academy cadet created a number of chances in the second half. He himself came close to score on more than one occasion but failed to find the back of the net.
A match which could have gone either way ended in 0-0 draw after exciting 90 minutes of play.
England were clinical in the penalty shootout as they converted all five penalties while Japan’s Hinada Kida missed his spot-kick which sealed the fate of the match.