Japan beat Scotland 3-1 in Group F at the FIFA U-20 World Cup thanks in part to a costly error by the Scottish goalkeeper that led to a goal by Yasuhito Morishima.
Andrew McNeil came out to clear a long ball from Japanese defender Tomoaki Makino, but he kicked it right to Morishima. The striker quickly chased the ball down and tapped it into an empty net for a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.
Japan added another in the 57th minute when midfielder Tsukasa Umesaki hit a beautiful strike along the ground from 25m out. McNeil got a hand on it, but was unable to stop the ball from finding the corner of the net.
PHOTO: AP
Morishima had a breakaway in the 75th minute, but McNeil came out and made a successful challenge. Four minutes later Jun Aoyama hit an ambitious strike from roughly 35m out which proved too much for McNeil.
Scotland's frustration showed in the second half. Jamie Adams was shown a yellow card in the 53rd minute for a trip from behind. Seconds later Calum Elliot ran over Atomu Tanaka and received Scotland's second caution.
Scotland managed a consolation goal in the 82nd minute, when substitute Ross Campbell scored on a rebound from inside the penalty area thanks to indifferent Japanese defending.
PHOTO: AP
Chile 3, Canada 0
In Toronto on Canada Day, Chile dominated the host country with a 20-3 edge in shots and 61 percent of the possession. Chile leads group A with three points.
Chile went ahead in the 25th minute when defender Marcus Haber slipped and failed to cut out a pass into the box. Nicolas Medina pounced and lashed a right-footed shot past Asmir Begovic.
It was 2-0 in the 54th minute after fullback Nana Attakora-Gyan was yellow-carded for hacking down a Chilean who was going past him on the left flank. The ensuing free kick went across goal and was headed back for captain Carlos Carmona to nod in.
Substitute Jaime Grondona made it 3-0 in the 81st minute, getting behind a befuddled defense to head in a cross from Mathias Vidangossy.
Spain 2, Uruguay 2
Spain needed a goal from Diego Capel in stoppage time just to get a disappointing, Group B draw in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Capel, who created havoc with his runs down the right flank, controlled a rebound and beat goalkeeper Mauro Goicoechea, who was off his line 30m away.
Spain, the European champions, came back from 2-0 down. Luis Suarez scored in the 56th minute and earlier set up Edinson Cavani just before half-time.
Zambia 1, Jordan 1
Also at Burnaby, Zambia wasted an early penalty scored by Fwayo Tembo and settled for a Group B draw with Jordan.
Tembo, who powered the Zambian attack with his accurate passes and runs down the flanks, was awarded the kick after Jordan defender Tariq Al Jumah was sent off in the eighth minute.
Zambia were in control, but Abdallah Salim scored against the run of play in the 41st minute to tie the game. Four minutes later, Rodgers Kola was shown a red by US referee Terry Vaughn for throwing a Jordan defender to the turf while trying to get position for a free kick.
Nigeria 1, Costa Rica 0
In Victoria, a goal by Brown Ideye lifted Nigeria to a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica and put them atop Group F with Japan.
Ideye, who plays for Nigerian club Ocean Boys, headed the ball past Costa Rican goalie Alfonso Quesada in the 75th minute.
The Flying Eagles may be without starting goalkeeper Moses Ocheje for the rest of the tournament. He was injured at the beginning of the second half, when he collided with teammate Suraj Sodiq when diving for a save. He had a bleeding nose and had to be taken off on a stretcher.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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