BY Obakeng Maje

Japan proved to have too much class as they strolled to a comfortable 3-0 win over Kenya in a Group B 8-Nation International tournament match played at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (26 May) afternoon.

The Asian side was simply too polished for Kenya, who battled to cope with their opponents’ superior movement and tactical ability.

It was Japan who made the running in the first half – their cohesion, technical skill and movement ensuring a constant supply of possession.

Their dominance was converted onto the score-sheet with the opening goal after 10 minutes.

Playmaker Gakuto Tanabe picked the ball up just outside the box and thread through a lovely through ball to Ryota Tanabe, who beat Kenya keeper Joel Bataro with a low shot at the near post.

Kenya should have equalised in the 15th minute when Meshak Karani found himself clean through on goal, but in trying to curl the ball around Japan keeper Matsatoshi Kushibiki, he succeeded only in shooting over.

The African side began to find some penetration around the 35 minute mark as they began to put their opponents’ goal under pressure.

Karani however squandered another great opportunity when after 38 minutes he failed to get a hold of Danson Kago’s superb 45-yard pass, when better control would have seen him in on goal.

The second half took a while to get going, with the first real chance of the stanza resulting in Japan’s second goal.

It came via a 57th minute corner, with Tanabe netting his brace with a headed effort.

Midway through the half the Kenyans again began to show more promise in attack.

But although they earned a succession of corners, their general play in the final third of the field did not pose much of a threat.

It was Japan that was to score next, putting the game beyond doubt in the 77th minute when substitute Ryuji Hirota scrambled the ball into goal into the net off the post and then a defender.