
BY Obakeng Maje
Brazil beat Japan 4-1 at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday (30 May) evening to finish top of Group B in the 8-Nation International Tournament.
Brazil will now meet South Africa in one semi-final, while Japan faces Argentina in the other.
The match got off to a fairly pedestrian start with both teams happy to push and probe for gaps.
Play was neat and compact, but lacked in terms of flair and goal-mouth action.
The teams found themselves evenly matched with early chances for Japan when Ryota Tanabe fired just over from outside the box and then at the other end Jean Deretti helped the ball goalwards with his head, but it was an easy save for Masatoshi Kushibiki.
For a team as well organised as Japan, the goal they conceded after 33 minutes was an uncharacteristic mistake as keeper Kushibiki tried to play the ball to a defender instead gifting the ball to Victor Andrade, who drilled in a low shot in at the near post.
Six minutes later it was a more typical Brazilian goal that lead to their second, a slick passing move seeing the ball worked to Henrique Ribeiro on the right wing, he in turn unselfishly squaring to Bruno Mendes for a simple tap in.
There were also chances for Japan, but Shiota Sakaki and Tanabe sent decent efforts just wide.
It took the South American side just six second half minutes to increase their lead, substitute Adelmison Bispo Jr scoring with a powerful low drive across the keeper.
On the hour mark Brazil extended their lead to four when Misael Bueno broke down the right, before setting up Bruno Mendes to turn and shoot into the far post.
Japan were close to pulling one back in the 63rd minute, but a brave header from Tanabe went wide, and resulted in him being taken off injured.
Bispo Jr should have added a fifth after a defensive mistake, but curled the ball wide of goal.
With 15 minutes to go there was a rare chance for Japan as Takuma Arano fired into the side-netting.
There was however to be a late consolation for the Asian side when Shuto Minami was taken down in the box by Luiz Conde in injury time, Minami himself scoring comfortably from the spot.





