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Brazil scored both of its goals in the first half, Japan came back with two in the second. Some reports of the match will probably describe it as a game that shifted in momentum at half time, but from a first-hand perspective I thought that Japan had the better play throughout most of the match, though everyone realises that Brazil sent a second-string team.

Interestingly enough, Japan also did not start several of the players who most viewers consider to be the top picks at their position, and this probably cost them the match. In the first half Japan had very good ball posession, with the midfield and the forwards moving the ball well and creating good chances. The main weak spots were some naiive play in the back line and some hesitation to take the open shot. The team was also hurt by a poor performance from Syunta Nagai on the left side. Fortunately, Nagai was substituted after just 26 minutes, but that didnt prevent Brazil from scoring first, against the run of play. Julio Batista, a very talented youngster from Sao Paulo, was left badly unmarked by his defender on a corner kick, finding plenty of open space as the kick came into the box, and he headed home an easy goal.

For a short time following the first goal, Japan were on the back foot and Brazil began attacking with confidence. Late in the second half Oliveira received a through pass in the middle of the field and Takeshi Aoki made a blunder, trying to stop him with a sliding tackle rather than just trying to push him out towards the sideline. The Brazilian player fought through Aoki's challenge and had a wide open shot from the top of the box making the score 2 - 0.

When Japan came out for the second half, coach Nishmura FINALLY decided to bring on his first string. Marinos forward Yutaka Tahara came in at the point, with forwards Kazunori Iio of Tokyo Verdy and Ryoichi Maeda of Jubilo Iwata playing just behind him in a striker/midfielder stance. Immediately the team began to create holes in Brazil's defence, particularly thanks to Tahara's big, lumbering presence in the box. Iio had a good match from start to finish, but he looked more effective when he moved into a flankjing position thjan he did earlier in the match when he was trying to play the top man position. Though Brazil's keeper saved a number of dangerous shots earnly in the second half, Japan had clearly seized the initiative and it wasnt long before they finally got one goal back. Iio made a beautiful cut to the side of the penaly area and then delivered a pass to midfielder Naohiro Ishikawa who blasted it past the Brazilian keeper.

Soon after that, Japan finally brought on midfielder Yoshito Okubo, who many people (including myself) view as Japan's top offensive midfielder in the U-20 category, and perhaps even a candidate for WC2002. Without spending too much time speculating on why the coach waited so long to bring him it, it was clear from the moment he stepped on the field that Okubo, supported by forwards Tahara and Iio, make a very potent combination that could cause a lot of teams headaches in Argentina this summer. Japan got the equaliser on a brilliant combination that showed the skills of Japan's youngsters. Iio provided a pretty feed to Okubo down the right wing, and Okubo left his defender hanging out to dry with a simple but effective feint-and-accelerate rush into the box. As the keeper started off his line Okubo laid the ball perfectly to Iio, who licked his lips at the delicious opportunity and then knocked it into the net.<

Unfortunately for Japan, Brazil's defenders showed a great deal of poise and experience as they fought off a flurry of attacks towards the end of the match and prevented Japan from snatching victory. The loss by PKs was very anticlimactic, but from the standpoint of Japanese fans it is nice to know that (at least when the first string is on the field) they have the players to go head to head with Brazil and perhaps even come out on top.

For Brazil, the most valuable players of the match were Oliveira, who was responsible for most of the good chances created on offense, and in particular their young keeper, Marcio, who made a number of beautiful saves to deny Japan. On the Japanese side, Tahara, Iio and Okubo were the most impressive, once they got in the match. Takeshi Aoki looked good in midfield despite his one bad defensive mistake and Takehito Shigehara looked dangerous in the first half, creating many of Japan's best opportunities prior to intermission. Brazil brought only six of the players who helped them win the South American U-20 championship, and all of them looked fairly impressive, though they by no means outplayed their opponents. On this showing, Brazil have to be viewed as one ofthe favourits to win the youth championship, especially since they will be playing close to home. Having said that, Japan clearly showed that they are in the same class as the canary-yellow squad, and they have a definite chance of brining home a trophy from Argentina this summer.

However, for its part, Japan looked rather flat, perhaps being unable to overcome the disappointment of their PK loss. Argentina got the only goal of the match on a penalty kick from DiLorenzo after Hayuma Tanaka was called for an over-agressive attempt to muscle his opponent off the ball in the penalty area. While Japan played Argentina even for most of the remaining time, they were unable to break down the Argentine defence.

Takeda, a journeyman player who has seen action for several clubs during his career, was a member of the original Verdy Kawasaki squad when the team was formed in 1993, and took part in both of the team's league championships, in 1993 and 1994. Takeda was always known as a ball hawk, who scores a lot of goals by lurking in front of goal and making the most of his opportunities. His winning goal was very much in that vein. As time was running out in the match, the Galaxy keeper and defender Alexi Lalas miscommunicated on a clearance, with the keeper knocking the ball out of the penalty area but sending it away from the defender instead of towards him. Takeda pounced on the miscue, and reached the ball a step ahead of Lalas. As he fended off the tackle he sent a long, looping shot over the head of the retreating keeper from about 30 meters, and it dropped into the wide open net.

The best news for Kashima in this match is the fact that Mitsuo Ogasawara took the field late in the second half, and seemed to be in good condition. Ogasawara has been sidelined with a gastric ulcer, and was unable to take part in the national team training camp last week. However, it appears that he will be ready to take the field next Saturday in the Xerox Super Cup -- the traditional exhibition match that kicks off the J.League season.

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