U17 World Cup: Honduras 1-6 Japan - Nakamura scores a hattrick as Blue Samurais cruise past Los Catrachos

Swapnaneel Parasar

U17 World Cup: Honduras 1-6 Japan - Nakamura scores a hattrick as Blue Samurais cruise past Los Catrachos image

Nakamura scored the first hattrick of the 2017 edition of FIFA U-17 World Cup as Japan dismantled Honduras in their Group E game at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday.

Kubo, Miyashiro and Suzuki were the other scorers on the night as Japan hit six goals past Honduras. Palacios scored on the only consolation goal for his side in the 36th minute.

Both teams headed in a similar 4-3-3 formation with 'Japanese Messi' Takefusa Kubo headlining the Asian giants' lineup up top. 

On a level platform in the opening quarter of an hour, Japan pushed the acceleration and opened the scoring with Keito Nakamura heading into a very tight space from a very well taken corner in by Kubo.

At the hour mark, Nakamura doubled the lead with Kubo the architect once again. Patrick Palacios displayed fine poaching instincts by finding the back of the net from an Axel Gomez flag-kick.
 
Moments later, Carlos Mejia found a golden opportunity to draw level but his shot from a tight angle went inches over the bar. 

Nakamura was on the act again as the Mitsubishi Yowa SC player registered the first hat-trick of this edition of the U17 World Cup. Just a couple of minutes later, Takefusa Kubo entered his name into the scoresheet, now with Nakamura turning in the assist.

A goal-fest was on the cards for the second time in the span of four hours in Guwahati when Honduras trailed Japan 1-4 at the break.

Los Catrachos were a side boosted up when the teams re-emerged from the tunnel as their plan to contain Japan went ahead as expected with the Samurai Blue Juniors not finding open spaces in the attacking third.

Skipper Cristian Moreira marked Kubo well but it was Taisei Miyashiro who scored the fifth goal, rising the highest to connect to his captain Shimpei Fukuoka's cross from the left.

Hat-trick boy Nakamura was taken off well before the hour mark as Yoshiro Moriyama chose to shut shop and go for a defender in Nobuki Iketaka. 

Injuries to Axel Gomez and Kenneth Martinez slowed up the game considerably. Hinata Kida and Kubo tried their level best to score another and put the match to bed but fatigue played a factor in the movement of the Japanese teens.

Everson Lopez brought down Kubo on the edge of the box and the La Masia product’s subsequent freekick was only shot to hit the side-netting by Yukinari Sugawara.

The humidity levels increased with as the game neared the final whistle and the last ten minutes seemed a drag for both sets of players as they chose to mostly fiddle with the ball and play the game out.

However, Sugawara made late amends by providing a well-thought-out pass to Toichi Suzuki who left the ‘keeper for dead with his shot into the net, sealing a 1-6 scoreline.

Japan won the three points and hence trail France at the summit of the table owing to a superior goal difference. The race for the top spot in Group E intensifies when Japan entertain France on Wednesday at the very same venue.

Swapnaneel Parasar