On Thursday 9 January, the U-23 Japan National Team faced the U-23 Saudi Arabia National Team in their first group stage match of the AFC U-23 Championship Thailand 2020. After each tame exchanged a goal apiece, Japan conceded a penalty kick in the closing minutes to lose the match 1-2.
In their first match of the tournament, coach MORIYASU Hajime named OSAKO Keisuke (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) as their starting goalkeeper, along with a defence line of WATANABE Tsuyoshi (FC Tokyo), OKAZAKI Makoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), and KOGA Taiyo (Kashiwa Reysol).
While TANAKA Shunta (Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences) and TANAKA Ao (Kawasaki Frontale) were named as the defensive midfielders, HASHIOKA Daiki (Urawa Red Diamonds) and SUGIOKA Daiki (Kashima Antlers) were positioned in the flanks. OGAWA Koki (Jubilo Iwata) was named as the lone striker, with HATATE Reo (Juntendo University) and MESHINO Ryotaro (Heart of Midlothian FC) playing beneath him.
>>READ MORE "JAPAN FA"