London 2012: Egypt experience Japan nightmare in Theatre of Dreams
Egypt bow out of the Olympic football tournament 3-0 after an early blunder and two later goals by Japan at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium on Saturday
Hatem Maher, Saturday 4 Aug 2012
Maya Yoshida of Japan reacts at the end of their men's quarterfinal soccer match against Egypt at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Old Trafford in Manchester (Photo: Reuters)
Ten-man Egypt missed out on a place at the London Games semis after slumping to a 3-0 defeat by a highly efficient Japan side in Saturday’s quarter-final match at the Old Trafford.
Kensuke Nagai put Japan ahead after 14 minutes when he made the most of a mix-up between defender Saad Samir and goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shennawy.
Samir received a straight red card before the break for a last-man foul on an opponent, leaving Egypt with a mountain to climb. Japan shattered Egypt’s hopes with two late headers from Saori Yoshida and Yuki Otsu to book a last-four berth.
Egypt, who have never won an Olympic football medal, appeared a pale shadow of the side which produced a superb second-half display to beat Belarus 3-1 in their last Group C game.
A sluggish defence failed to contain Japan’s energetic forwards and some slack marking, came back to haunt Egypt, as it also cost them dearly in their opening loss to Brazil.
Dreadful blunder
A fast-paced Japan side mounted pressure early on and earned them a 14th-minute goal, thanks to a dreadful defensive blunder.
Egypt’s left-back Eslam Ramadan was dispossessed by Hiroshi Kiyotake, who darted down the flank before sending in a low cross that inexplicably caused mayhem in the area.
Hastily moving out, goalkeeper El-Shennawy collided with defender Samir, leaving Nagai with an easy tap-in into an empty net. Nagai was substituted shortly afterwards after sustaining an injury.
Egypt then pushed forward in a bid to level the score but they could not find a way through a resolute defence that had not conceded any goal so far.
Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s best performer in the group stage, looked nowhere near his best as he was affected by an injury he picked up in the 3-1 victory over Belarus. His pace was sorely missed as Japan held firm.
Matters went from bad to worse for Egypt when Samir was sent off four minutes before the break for tugging Manabu Saito, who was about to race clear on goal.
Egypt had the better possession for large spells in the second half but could only muster some tame efforts. They paid for recurring defensive lapses as Japan put the result beyond doubt with two late goals.
Yoshida doubled their advantage in the 78th minute when he dived unmarked to head Kiyotake’s low free-kick past El-Shennawy.
Otsu wrapped up the win with seven minutes remaining when he towered between two defenders to head home a cross from the left.
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