Japan opens Olympic men’s soccer with 1-0 win over SAfrica

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:28 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 22, 2021 Last Modified: 8:31 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 22, 2021

Advertise with us

TOKYO - An empty stadium is not how Japanese athletes imagined competing for the first time in Tokyo at their home Olympics.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

TOKYO - An empty stadium is not how Japanese athletes imagined competing for the first time in Tokyo at their home Olympics.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/07/2021 (1901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TOKYO – An empty stadium is not how Japanese athletes imagined competing for the first time in Tokyo at their home Olympics.

At least the men’s soccer team won on Thursday — a day before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-impacted games.

Takefusa Kubo scored the only goal with a curling strike off the post in the 71st minute that clinched a 1-0 victory over South Africa at the Tokyo Stadium.

Japan's Takefusa Kubo, right, celebrates his goal with teammates during a men's soccer match against South Africa at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Kubo is a 20-year-old forward signed up to Real Madrid who has yet to play for the Spanish giants while gaining first-team experience elsewhere in La Liga.

In the other Group A game, Mexico beat France 4-1.