BY Obakeng Maje and SAFA

Japan picked up their second successive win in the 8-Nation International Tournament at Athlone on Monday (28 May) night with a 2-1 victory over Cameroon.

The second game of the evening served up a dish of high quality football, with Japan leading the way with some scintillating soccer on the night.
The Japanese managed to find their rhythm and combinations early on, looking sharp and inventive on the ball.

After five minutes an intricate and quickly executed move inside the Cameroon box saw the ball worked to Ryuji Hirota, but from a tight angle he shot across goal.

It was a reward for their excellent early play that the Asian side took the lead in the 14th minute.

The goal arrived when Shuto Minimi found a moment of inspiration to play the neatest of through balls to Hirota.

Huirota found himself one-on-one with goal keeper Kerrido Haschou, who was wrong-footed as the Japan striker held his nerve to clinically side-foot into the bottom corner.

Japan continued to dominate the game with their decisive and intelligent passing and nearly doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when Minimi crashed a free kick into the wall.

Cameroon had managed a few efforts from long range, but finally got a proper chance on goal in the 31st minute when Charles Etoundi burst goal-wards, but his low shot was well saved by Matatoshi Kushibiki.

Three minutes before the break Japan had their second when Minimi scored from 12-yards out on the left after Shinya Yajima’s clever assist.

The west African side needed something to get back into the contest after the break and it duly arrived in the 52nd minute when Emmanuel Ewangue’s shot flew into the arm of Alberto Manchi and a penalty was awarded.
The initial spot kick from Yazid Emane was saved, but a retake was ordered after Kushibiki was ruled to have moved to early; this time the Cameroon number 10 making no mistake.

Japan’s outstanding ability was however soon to come to the fore again when after 65 minutes Takuno Arano attempted the audacious: a 45-yard chip on goal, which was only kept out by a last ditch save by the back-pedalling Cameroon keeper Haschou.
Two minutes later Arano was again nearly on the score-sheet, this occasion being denied by a brave close-range block by Haschou.

By the time Shinya Yajima had a near-post shot saved, the lively Cameroon support in the stands died now as they realised the Asian side had retained their dominance once again.
But to Cameroon’s credit they never gave up trying – Etoundi remained full of running down the right wing, but never managed to properly threaten the Japan goal with three shots in 10 minutes.
But in the end Japan had no problems holding on for what was a deserved win from what may rank as the game of the tournament thus far.