[Japan National Soccer National Team Column]In the quarterfinals against Qatar of the U-23 Asian Cup, which also served as the final Asian qualifying round for the Paris Olympics, it was FW Shindai Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol) who scored the winning goal after a series of scoreless matches. .
■No points in Kashiwa, which he belongs to
The Sun King’s striker emerged from a long, long tunnel.
AFC U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals against Qatar. The first half of extra time was in a situation where it would be the end if we lost. In the 101st minute, the long-awaited winning goal was born.
Midfielder Ryotaro Araki (FC Tokyo)’s exquisite through ball caught forward Masahiro Hosoya’s first touch while ramming his body into the opposing defender, and he exploded with joy as he hit the back of the net with a right-footed shot.
“I felt that everyone on the team was waiting for me to score, and I wasn’t able to score it.”
As he said, Hosoya has not scored a goal so far in this tournament. The man who was expected to be the team’s ace from the beginning had fallen into an unexpected slump.
This season, his team, Kashiwa, has not scored a goal. Last season, the striker scored 14 points, more than 40% of the team’s total points, ranking fifth in the scoring rankings, and was called up to play in the Asian Cup with the A’s national team.
It’s not that the movement is bad. It’s about opportunity. However, the shot doesn’t go in. The same was true for the U-23 Japan National Team.
That’s why the taste of the goal was so special.
“I really thought that if I didn’t make the decision today, my value would really go down, and it was a really tough season, so I guess I was able to prove my worth again today.”
The decorated FW said so with a smile of relief.
■Ace who can’t decide, thoughts of his friends
Kenichi Arai
Hosoya’s teammates continued to be concerned about him. The day before, defender Ayumu Ohata (Urawa Reds) was enthusiastic, saying, “I want Hosoya to score,” and Kashiwa’s senior goalkeeper, Brian Kokubo Reo (Benfica), often left comments showing concern for his juniors. There is.
Midfielder Fuyuki Yamada (Tokyo Verdy), who scored the opening goal that day, said with a laugh, “Well, I was really happy,” and added, “I knew he was suffering, and a lot of things were said to him, but we… I believed in you,” he declared.
Kashiwa’s fellow defender Daiki Sekine also said of Hosoya’s goal, “I was really happy!” and said the following.
“(Hosoya) is like a big brother to me. I saw him suffering at Reysol up close, and seeing Shindai-kun make the decision right in front of me, I was extremely happy and jumped on board right away. ”
The goal was all the more heart-wrenching because he felt the pain of his trusted “big brother.”
“He’s a player who doesn’t show any weaknesses, but after the game against Korea, I felt like he wasn’t feeling his usual way.Because I really felt that, I wanted to assist as well.” It really paid off today, and I was really happy.”
Coach Tsuyoshi Oiwa said with a laugh, “The players around him were the happiest.”
“Isn’t that what a forward is like? It’s important to wait patiently.”
He was one of the best strikers of his generation in terms of ability and track record. For that reason, that slump must have been a big miscalculation for the commander, but he bet on the ace he trusted even in this big match. That decision paid off.
■Final resolution
Kenichi Arai
Hosoya, who had not scored any points, was not at peace.
“There were some players, including myself, who had a lot of things said about them during this tournament. Before we started the match, I talked with (Sato) Keiji (Bremen) and said, “Today, we’ll decide.”
Even in the quarterfinals, there was a moment when he couldn’t push in a shot when he received a decisive opportunity from a cross by Kuo Matsuki (FC Tokyo), but he says he had changed his mind. He continued to pursue the ball with dedication, and even made plays that forced the opposing goalkeeper to be sent off, contributing to the team. However, what a forward is looking for is a goal.
As the first half of overtime began, forward Kotaro Uchino (University of Tsukuba) was preparing on the bench, and he was also aware that a substitution board with his number on it had been prepared.
“In my heart, I thought, “If I finish here, my soccer career will be over.”
He was pushed to such an extent, but he made the last chance before being substituted, and he took the opportunity he had and made the kill without letting it go.
“The more I played, the more I felt frustrated.In the midst of all this, I knew I had no choice but to keep going.”
After the ace made it through the long tunnel, his teammates could only hear their hopes for him, saying, “I’m sure he’ll make more decisions from here on out.” He himself has no intention of finishing with just one point. And of course we know that the next game is important.
“If we don’t win next time, the win against Qatar will be meaningless. We want to win well and qualify for Paris.”
A Sun King striker who represents the U-23 generation. The long night is over and the sunrise is bright and clear.
◎Interview and text: Akihiko Kawabata
Tags: Masahiro Hosoya overcomes pressure thinking soccer career over .Escape unexpected slump Goal .com Japan
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