Japan’s Nagoya Oceans Defeat Thai champions GH Bank at AFC Futsal Club Championship

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Defending champions Nagoya Oceans recovered from their Sunday’s opening match defeat against Uzbekistan’s Ardus by collecting all three points against Thai champions GH Bank following a 5-2 win in the AFC Futsal Club Championship on Monday.

Peruvian forward Morioka Kaoru scored a first half double while Japanese international Tomoki Yoshikawa added one more before the break while Tomoki Watanabe and Wataru Kitahara also grabbed a goal apiece for the reigning champions. Panomkorn Saisorn and Suphawut Thueanklang scored for GH Bank.

In the fiery first half, the combination of Japan international Kenichiro Kogure and Kaoru created much trouble for the Thai champions as Kogure set up both of Kaoru’s goals inside the first five minutes to put Oceans in the driver’s seat.

GB Bank coach Rakphol Sainetngam termed the defeat as ‘unfortunate’. “The score looked flattering and it’s unfortunate but we deserved something from the match,” he said.

“We controlled the match and created some good chances, much of the blame goes to those two early goals which could have been avoided,” he said.

Asked whether he missed his Brazilian suspended player Carlos Edurado Oliveira Silva who was red-carded on Sunday’s match against All Sports, Sainetngam stressed that his young side were ready enough to replace Silva.

“Not really, of course Carlos brings a different proposition to the team but our young boys today fought bravely throughout the match,” he said. 

GH Bank immediately reduced the deficit after Kaoru scored his second goal when Saisorn connected a through pass from Ekkaphan Suratsawang to make it 2-1.

Oceans were in no mood to let the match go from their grasp as Yoshikawa made it 3-1 with a long-range effort. The Thais again showed their fighting spirit by scoring two minutes from the first half when Thailand international Krtsada Wongkaeo brilliantly fed Thueanklang as the first half ended 3-2 in favour of the Oceans.

The Thais continued pressing hard and unfortunately hit the upright twice before folding tamely later after coach Sainetngam relied on powerplay with four minutes remaining against the organised Japanese.    

“They are an organised side with some really good players so we needed to be creative and clever to take control over the match,” Oceans’ Portuguese coach Jose Amarante said. 
“After the early hiccups in the tournament, we badly needed this win but it was a difficult match against a very good side.

“I saw Lebanon’s All Sports playing this morning and I can tell you that they are one of the best sides in the tournament, we need to be very careful tomorrow while facing them,” he added.