Japan beat South Africa 24-9 to close out their Group A play with the win a first for the host nation in 37 years. It was South Africa’s best match, as well. In the last match of the “Group of Death”, Group B, Australia had the better of Kazakhstan 15-7 in a match marred by two red cards. Final points: Group A: GRE 9, ITA 8, HUN 7, USA 4, JPN 2, RSA 0. Group B: ESP 10, CRO 6, SRB 6, MNE 4, AUS 4, KAZ 0.
August 4 Quarterfinal Schedule:
Match 31, 14:00, 1A GRE v 4B MNE
Match 32, 15:30, 2A ITA v 3B SRB
Match 33, 18:20, 3A HUN v 2B CRO
Match 34, 19:50, 4A USA v 1B ESP
Order of matches subject to change
Japan and South Africa had a battle royale before Japan pulled away for its first victory in Group A and the first in 37 years at the Olympic Games — 24-9.
It was their swansong from Tokyo 2020 and their head to head did not disappoint the biggest crowd of the tournament as the Japanese and South African women were sitting side by side and providing the out-of-pool entertainment.
Both teams knew two days ago that their Olympic dream was over, so this encounter was a loosening up of attitudes and enjoyment was at the forefront of their minds.
Japan finishes fifth in the group and South Africa sixth. For South Africa, its previous match against Greece brought home five goals and tonight, the barrel of goals lifted its Tokyo total to 20.
Japan has been inspirational all tournament and to finish with just the one win was not just rewards for its magnificent contribution. Japan lost to United States of America by two, five down on Hungary, only one goal behind group winner Greece and eight behind world champion Italy.
Japan has been a revelation, thwarting every team and on the other hand, showing those nations how the sport can be, or should be played — with speed, guile and perfect ball handling.
For South Africa, the final match was a joy to play as it was to watch and showcased what the team is capable of, and could have been, except for the Covid-19 pandemic.
There was one harsh moment where Devon Card, an earlier goal scorer, placed his head in the road of a Mitsuru Takata’s backhand shot at 7:35 in the fourth quarter. The slow-motion replay showed how distorted the right side of his face became. He drifted to the side of the pool and was replaced.
The quarters favoured Japan, as expected, but it was pleasing to see South Africa scoring at will, although the ninth goal came at 5:33 in the third, just before Cameron Laurenson was red-carded for misconduct from the pool. It was a case of when the 10th would come up. Nardus Badenhorst had a chance from the penalty line and hit the right upright, sadly. Donn Stewart, who earlier scored his first goal in Tokyo, swam up and had his penalty attempt stopped by Tomoyoshi Fukushima. The 10th goal never arrived.
Yusuke Inaba was Japan’s leading scorer with 14 goals. Liam Neill had a blinder for South Africa, netting four goals, his only scores in Tokyo.
The match was the equal highest scoring of the men’s tournament with 33 goals, with the other highest being the South Africa-Greece match (28-5 on Saturday).
Match 25, 18:20, Group A, JAPAN 24 SOUTH AFRICA 9
Quarters: 5-4, 7-4, 6-1, 6-0
Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Vojin Putnikovic (SRB)
Shots: JPN: 24/43. RSA: 9/23.
Extra Man: JPN: 6/14. RSA: 5/7.
Pens: JPN: 2/3. RSA: 0/2.
FLASH QUOTES
Yoji Omoto (JPN) — Head Coach
“After 37 years (Los Angeles 1984 v Brazil — 9-8 in the 7-12 classification group) we gain our first victory at the Olympic Games. The most important agenda tonight was to score as many goals as possible. In the last game we were not able to do this. We achieved that today. Our team for the last five years has had the heavy task, rather than just winning. I am very happy we have been able to do that. There is something else more than victory and that is to get stronger.” On next year’s Asian Games: “Our last victory was 40 years ago. This is our next biggest aim.”
Keigo Okawa (JPN) — Captain
“We were really trying to get medals. Perhaps today’s victory is the first step. The best thing about Tokyo 2020 was it was well organised and we had a lot of support and we showed our ability and strength (to the world).”
Paul Martin (RSA) — Head Coach
“We started to play well against Greece (Saturday) and continued tonight. We had a positive mindset; we were never negative. There was only a couple of goals in it in the first half and then the match opened up and we gave away too many major fouls. The experience has been brilliant. The only regrets are we were under-prepared for match situations because of Covid and being at the bottom of Africa. There was no way around it. Credit to the guys for their conditioning and fitness training. It was commendable. If we had started the tournament today, it would have been much different.”
Lwazi Madi (RSA) — Captain and Goalkeeper
“We never got the opportunity to train as a team because of the Covid virus as it was quite bad in our country. We always tried to progress with every match.” When asked the best thing about Tokyo 2020, he replied: The cafeteria (at the Olympic Village)! The team was really excited and didn’t know what to expect. We saw videos about the village and then we saw the real thing. I can’t believe it has been 60 years since South Africa was last at the Olympics. It was an amazing feeling.”
GROUP B: AUSTRALIA-KAZAKHSTAN — 15-7
Australia left the Olympic Games with a powerful statement victory, defeating Kazakhstan 15-7 in their Group B match, which was the final group match in Tokyo.
The match could have been much closer had not Srdjan Vuksanovic (KAZ), the nine-goal scorer, being red-carded a minute or so into the match for allegedly having “greasy” shoulders. He was checked by the poolside by the referee and he was red-carded, sucking the zest and power out of the Kazakh team. It destroyed what could have been an excellent encounter and something we had been awaiting for some time.
It was not the only red card, as Australia’s Aidan Roach was given the boot just after halftime, for overly physical play.
With Vuksanovic out of the way, Australia went through the first quarter 4-1 and started to get into a groove. Then three more goals came in the second for a 7-1 halftime advantage.
With Roach out of the game, the Sharks knocked in three more at the start of the third period with Lachlan Edwards smashing in his rebound from two metres, Rhys Howden from the left and Blake Edwards on counter-attack, the recipient of the third pass.
Kazakhstan captain Murat Shakenov scored the first of his two goals in the period, and Andrew Ford and Richard Campbell, in his fourth Olympic Games, tipping the ball in on extra-man attack. It was Campbell’s second of the match, ninth at Tokyo 2020 and 32nd Olympic-career goal. Shakenov, with his second, closed the third period at 12-3.
Alexey Shmider opened the fourth period on extra and Howden nailed his fourth goal of the match, also on extra. After the Aussie timeout, Howden added another on extra and it lifted his Tokyo tally to six and Olympic mark to 20 in his 239th international. Rustam Ukumanov scored his team’s fifth for 14-5. Blake Edwards went on a lone counter and lobbed the goalkeeper and Ukumanov and Stanislav Shvedov closed the scoring, the last from nine metres, 14 seconds from full time.
The match was the swansong for Elvis Fatovic as the Aussie Sharks head coach, leaving after eight and a half years for Barceloneta in Spain.
Match 30, 19:50, Group B, AUSTRALIA 15 KAZAKHSTAN 7
Quarters: 4-1, 3-0, 5-2, 3-4
Referees: German Moller (ARG), Michael Goldenberg (USA)
Shots: AUS: 15/33. KAZ: 7/27.
Extra Man: AUS: 6/12. KAZ: 2/11.
Pens: Nil.
FLASH QUOTES
Elvis Fatovic (AUS) — Last Match as Head Coach of Aussie Sharks
“It’s pretty emotional for me and the team for the past could of days. I’m grateful for this time. It has been a privilege, good and bad for the last eight and a half years. We achieved great things (World Cup silver medal in 2018) but whether it was realistic or not here I don’t know. It’s one of the best chapters of my life, as a player and a coach, just finished. I will always feel back in Australia that it is my home.”
Alexey Shmider (KAZ) — Goal Scorer
“It was strange to play without spectators and without supporters. We prepared hard for this one, but Covid made it harder to prepare than ever before. We are not satisfied with this performance. We could have done better, but it is what it is. Next year we play the Asian Games and we will use the year to prepare and defend our title, which is the most important aim.”