Takefusa Kubo scored the game’s winning goal as Japan defeated South Africa 1-0 in their men’s soccer opener at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, with the match proceeding after most South African players cleared COVID-19 protocols before the game at an empty Tokyo Stadium.
Japan, seeking to better its best performance of a bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, struggled to find the last touch in the Group A match, but the 20-year-old Real Madrid playmaker broke the deadlock in the 71st minute with a thunderous attempt from inside the box.
“I’m really relieved at this moment, I feel joy and equal amounts of relief,” Kubo said. “I’d had a few shots during the game and I knew it would be me if there was one player to score.”
“There were lots of things written before the game, but as it turned out, they were as good a team as we’d thought. We struggled, and deservedly so.”
A total of 18 South African players were identified as close contacts after two of their teammates and a video analyst tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday, the first confirmed cases among Olympic teams in the athletes’ village.
For a match to be played, FIFA needs at least 13 players from each side to be registered, and players deemed close contacts at the Olympics must test negative within six hours of the start of a match in order to participate.
South Africa’s head coach, David Notoane, revealed on Wednesday that 17 players trained and the same number were registered for the game, one less than the limit of 18.
When 20 minutes, Kubo’s penalty appeal was denied after he seemed to be tripped inside the box. Subsequently, in the 32nd minute, a missed ball from the South African backline put Koji Miyoshi through on goal down the left, but his effort was deflected by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
With halftime approaching, Daichi Hayashi, Japan’s lone scorer, knocked home a low ball from Ritsu Doan but was called offside. A few moments later, Kubo fired a free kick inches wide, capping up a disappointing first half.
In the 77th minute, South Africa got their first significant shot on goal, but Luther Singh’s low attempt from inside the box was straight at goalkeeper Kosei Tani.
“We were a bit timid on the whole in the first half…We can do a lot more and play more confidently from start,” captain Maya Yoshida said.
“It’d have been better to have some supporters in such a good stadium, but I’m sure 100 million fans are supporting us (at home).”
