Lions Score 4 Great Goals Against Japan and Gift Away 1 Goal

It was a crucial game for the Lions on Saturday, as a win over Japan would move us up in the rankings. Japan—a super fit and fast team—is always a tough opponent, keeping you switched on for the full 90 minutes.

We were short a goalkeeper, but Samba kindly stepped in to wear the gloves once again. Motivated to secure a good result, we knew that in this game, the team that scored first would have the best chance to win.

Japan applied high pressure for the first 10 minutes, but our defense held strong. We spotted plenty of opportunities on the wings, with both Hira-san and Happy finding ample space. When we decided to press Japan, it resulted in a corner. Hira-san delivered a perfect ball, and Eworo headed it in for the opener! That goal boosted our confidence, and we began to play impressive football.

Great combinations led to our second goal. Germain served Eworo, who, instead of taking the shot, laid the ball off to Charlie for an easy tap-in. At that point, Japan looked vulnerable, having not generated any significant shots on goal. We believe we could—or should—have scored at least two more goals. Germain came close again after a brilliant through ball from Hira-san, but his effort hit the woodwork.

A misunderstanding between Samba and Gic resulted in Japan being awarded a penalty. They took their chance and scored 2-1—Japan’s first shot on target!

In the second half, the battle continued as Japan pushed forward. We scored a fantastic goal when Hira-san delivered a superb cross that reached Happy, who outpaced a defender and slotted the ball into the top corner. To our horror, the linesman ruled it offside—clearly a mistake, as the picture below shows!

We sought justice and pressed for a 3-1 lead while Japan intensified their pressure on our defense and on Samba. We survived several corners, and a fast break following a great through ball from Hira-san allowed Charlie to score our well-deserved 3-1.

When the final whistle blew, it marked the end of a great match—a superb team effort that secured us all three points!