Japan - Germany 0:2 (0:1)



Match Number:	750
Date:		16.12.2004
Location:	Yokohama, Japan
Competition:	(friendly)


JAPAN:
Narazaki
Kaji, Tanaka, Chano, Alex (83. Nishi) -
Inamoto (70. Endo), Fukunishi, Ogasawara, Fujita (70. Miura) -
Takahara (70. Okubo), Suzuki (46. Tamada)

GERMANY:
Kahn
Owomoyela, Wörns, Mertesacker, C. Schulz -
F. Ernst (77. M. Engelhardt), Ballack, B. Schneider (73. Borowski)
Asamoah, Klose, Podolski (63. Wechsel Schweinsteiger)

Scoring:
0:1 Klose (54., assist Ballack)
0:2 Ballack (69., assist Asamoah)
0:3 Klose (90., assist Asamoah)

Referee: Mark Alexander Shield (Australia)
Yellow cards: Ogasawara, Chano - Owomoyela

Attendance: 61,805

A relatively good performance for Germany, and deserved win, based on a strong effort in the 2nd half. The opening period was a bit sloppy, the Germans wasting chances, and the Japanese relying on rare counterattacks.

After the break, the Germans went about their business more seriously, but it took a patzer by the Japanese goalkepper to give them the opening. Ballack's lazy free kick bounced off his arms, and Klose got the garbage goal. Ballack then took a nice goal after an assist from Asamoah, who was also the provider for Klose's ending score.

The defense was solid throughout, limiting Olli Kahn's efforts to gift the hosts a goal :).

Debuts in the national squad for Patrick Owomoyela (Bielefeld), Christian Schulz (Bremen) and Marco Englehardt (Kaiserslautern).


Abseits Guide to German Soccer: www.abseits-soccer.com