England 0-2 Japan
Montaigu Tournament
St. Georges, Montaigu
23 March 2005

The England Under-16s lost their first match of the 2005 Montaigu Tournament in St. Georges after conceding a goal in each half to a skillful and opportunistic Japanese side.

England created plenty of chances but somehow they just couldn't find a way past the Japanese goalkeeper, who relied more on luck than instinct as England's forwards failed to test him with enough shots on target.

The first goal of the match came ten minutes from half-time as Kosuke Yamamoto finished well from a corner after a swift counter-attack had caught England out.

The goal came slightly against the run of play as England had enjoyed more possession and territorial advantage and it had the added effect of giving the Japanese the impetus for five minutes in which they looked dangerous coming forward.

However England weathered that storm and in the last few minutes of the first half looked like the side most likely to score, going close on two separate occasions.

At half-time Under-16 coach Kenny Swain brought on Daniel Sturridge and John Paul Kissock and they helped England keep the momentum going. Indeed, the Three Lions dominated proceedings only to undermine their good work by again conceding a soft goal slightly against the run of play.

The ball ran free on the edge of the England penalty area and, having won a 50-50 challenge, the Japanese no.18 Tsutasa Yokotake supplied a wonderful finish to put his side two-up and beyond England.

Try as they might, England couldn't come back into the match and whilst the Japanese go straight to the top of Group B, Swain's side will be looking to bounce back against Portugal on Thursday.

After the match Swain spoke to TheFA.com: "Well it was a nervous start from both sides. We settled well at first but it was a tight pitch which made it difficult for us to play our normal fluent football.

"To concede from a corner was really disappointing from our point of view, especially as it gave them a lift.

"The second goal was a great strike from the Japanese lad and good luck to him but again it was a goal that we could have avoided conceding.

"So it's a disappointing result but they'll learn from that and we go into the next game against Portugal hoping that we can do better."

England U16 v Japan, St. Georges, 23 March 2005

England: Andreas Arestidou - Blackburn Rovers, Jack Cork - Chelsea, Lee Molyneux - Everton, Jake Thomson - Southampton (Josh Wright - Charlton Athletic, 73), James Tomkins - West Ham Utd, Josh Walker - (capt.) Middlesbrough, Febian Brandy - Manchester Utd, Michael Nardiello - Manchester Utd (Daniel Sturridge - Manchester City, 40), Sone Aluko - Birmingham City, Matthew Richards -Derby County (Jamie Chandler - Sunderland, 62), Lee Sawyer - Chelsea (John Paul Kissock - Everton, 40)
Subs not used: Ben Amos - Manchester Utd, Paul Rodgers - Arsenal, Joe Magunda - Leicester City