Three Games, Three Wins for the Northern Irish
On day two, prolific scoring helps Northern Ireland win three out of three after beating Japan 10-1.
For the third game running Northern Ireland started the game with incredible pace and soon took a healthy lead scoring two in the first two minutes, with all the thanks going to Alenizi.
Using patient build up play, and transitioning quickly into attacking positions, the Green and White Army are seeing the profits of their hard work throughout the tournament so far. The high press saw them go three goals to the good, after McCready won the ball back deep in the Japanese half.
The midfielder would then tee up team mate McFarland on the right wing, who expertly found the bottom left corner of the goal.
Japan managed to get a hold of the game briefly, creating some really promising chances.
In the closing stages of the first half they would catch Northern Ireland with a quick snapshot no one was expecting, least of all Smiley in the Northern Ireland goal, who was a spectator as the ball rolled past him into the net.
But Smiley wasn’t to be outdone again, getting down well to make a save to his right to thwart the next Japanese chance.
McCready extended Northern Ireland’s lead with his second goal of the game, and his nation's fourth, from a penalty kick.
A very determined Japan came out for the second half, using their quick wittedness to catch Northern Ireland napping, once again just unable to apply the finishing touch, as Smiley came to the rescue with a fine recovery save.
Regaining their earlier composure, Northern Ireland scored three on the bounce to take an 8-1 lead halfway through the half, bringing on fresh legs to keep the ball moving fast and breaking down the resilient Japanese defence.
The eighth goal was a stand out piece of football. Navid and Friel, a new player to the Street Soccer set up, linked up very cutely down the left flank, slicing through the Japan defence with neat passing, the move ended beautifully with Friel gliding around his marker and slotting the ball into the far corner of the goal.
Japan would have one more chance in the last moments of the game with penalty attacked with pace, hoping to follow suit in their other chances by catching Northern Ireland unaware. With a great effort, the Japanese forward was able to beat Smiley, but the powerful strike would only find the crossbar.
Words by Izaak Darvill | Photos by John Anderson