BAMBOLIM/ FATORDA: Group B winners Japan cruised into the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 quarter-finals and set up a meeting with United Arab Emirates on the back of a perfect record after thrashing already-eliminated Australia 6-0 at GMC Stadium, while Vietnam beat Kyrgyzstan 3-1 at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Thursday.
A much-changed Japan side took the lead inside five minutes through Soichiro Kozuki but after a dominant first half-hour by the team in blue, Australia did respond to keep the scoreline 1-0 at the break.
The two-time winners, who had already posted scorelines of 7-0 and 8-0 in their previous Group B fixtures, raised their game in the second half and Taisei Miyashiro and Gijo Sehata all netted before the hour-mark, after which Nagi Matsumoto thumped home a sublime finish before Kozuki completed his brace on 83 minutes and substitute Akito Tanahashi added the side’s sixth.
Having already wrapped up Group B with a game to spare, Japan coach Yoshiro Moriyama made several changes to his starting line-up as seven players made their tournament bows.
At Fatorda, Vietnam booked a quarter-final date with Islamic Republic of Iran in the AFC U-16 Championship after a 3-1 winver Kyrgyzstan saw the Southeast Asians claim the runner-up spot in Group B.
The Central Asians opened the scoring early on through Gulzhigit Alykulov only for Vietnam’s Nguyen Khac Khiem to hit back 20 minutes in as the tie remained firmly in the balance at the interval.
The unlucky Emir Shigaibaev headed into his own net after a mistake by goalkeeper Elgard Sychev in the 80th minute before substitute Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong rounded off the scoring three minutes from time as Vietnam set up a clash with Group A winners Iran on Sunday.
Needing to overcome their Southeast Asian opponents to advance to the quarter-finals at the first time of asking, Kyrgyzstan responded in the perfect fashion to their 8-0 reversal to Japan by taking the lead in the sixth minute.
Alykulov picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and broke into the left side of the penalty area before shifting it to his right foot and curling a delightful effort from just inside the box beyond the reach of goalkeeper Huynh Huu Tuan into the bottom left corner.
Fresh from their stunning come-from-behind win over Australia, though, Vietnam fought back strongly and were back on level terms thanks to Khac Khiem’s goal in the 20 minute.
Nguyen Huu Thang delivered a dangerous inswinging free-kick from the right that was only partially cleared by the Kyrgyzstan defence, and when Nguyen Xuan Kien’s volley back in deflected up onto the bar Khac Khiem was on hand to tap home.
