Kirin Cup - Japan 1 Slovakia 1

Japan drew 1-1 with Slovakia on Saturday as the Kirin Cup got under wway.

The Japanese who have recently travelled as far afield as Africa struggled to break down a Slovakian side short on attacking ideas but strong in defensive.

The game did open to an explosive start, though when Slovakia scored first when striker Peter Dzurik responding to a corner hit the ball from about twenty feet away into the back of the net.

No sooner had the game started, though, than the Japanese equalized when on being awarded a free kick, International Shunsuke Nakamura unleashed a tremendous left-footed shot from 30 feet swooping high and over the defensive wall and into the Slovakian goal.

Unfortuantely for the supporters packed into the Miyagi Stadium the game became bogged down in midfield as both sides ran out of ideas and scoring opportunities. Japan will play Bolivia later this week in the same tournament with Slovakia ending the tournament also playing against the Bolivians.