Mali misses the penalty in injury-time and loses to Japan

Mali continues their quest for qualification to the elimination round at the Olympic games but it’s a bumpy road, as the Eagles lost 1-0 to Japan to give themselves more trouble. Mali drew with last placed Israel in the first game and after this defeat, they will have a showdown game with Paraguay for the second place in the group. Japan destroyed Paraguay 5-0 in the first match but Mali didn’t used it and only drew with Israel. And against leaders Japan they missed the opportunity to at least get a point. It was the second minute of overtime with a score 1-0 for Japan when defender handballed and after a VAR check, a penalty was awarded. Cheickna Doumbia stepped up but missed the golden opportunity. The Eagles will be sorry they missed on this opportunity, especially since they were the better team throughout the game.

Midfielder Rihito Yamamoto scored the winner in the 82nd minute for Japan in what happened to be a tight affair and all of a sudden, the Japanese are all but qualified for the next round. They are facing last placed Israel in the Round 3 on July 30th. African side who started the game brighter, and they were unlucky not to claim an early lead when Thiemoko Diarra’s effort forced a fine save out of Leo Kokubo. Aside from that one flash point, to say the opening half-hour was dour would be an understatement, with the attacking intent and ruthlessness Japan showed against Paraguay nowhere to be seen.

Even though clear cut chances were non-existent, it was Mali doing most of the running, with Diarra threatening throughout, this time blasting wide from 25-yards when he ought to have hit the target. Mali did eventually have Kokobu beaten all ends up, but despite the Japanese keeper being merely rooted to the spot when Cheickna Doumbia’s header looked to be heading into the bottom corner, the ball ricocheted away to safety off the post, leaving Mali wondering just what they needed to do to turn their dominance into a lead. It took until the 75th minute for Japan to conjure up anything meaningful in front of goal, and even when they did, Shunsuke Mito cannoning the ball off his own leg with an open goal was somewhat symptomatic of their evening. They thought they had the final say though, breaking Mali hearts when after seeing Kein Sato’s initial effort saved by Lassine Diarra, Rihito Yamamoto prodded home the rebound from close range.