2012 London Olympics – Soccer: Japan reaches Olympic soccer semifinals with 3-0 win over Egypt

MANCHESTER, England — Japan advanced to the mens Olympic soccer semifinals Saturday with a 3-0 win over a short-handed Egypt team after goals from Kensuke Nagai, captain Maya Yoshida and Yuki Otsu.

Nagai scored in the 14th minute after midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake stripped the ball off a defender near the halfway line, turned and ran down the right before firing in a hard cross just inside the penalty area.

Nagai chested the ball down and turned around Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawi and defender Saadeldin Saad, who collided and sprawled to the ground. Nagai slotted into an empty net.But Nagai hurt his leg during the goal and had to be taken off on a stretcher. He tried to come back but was taken out in the 20th minute, with forward Manabu Saito coming on.

For Japans second goal, Yoshida was unmarked and scored on a header in the 78th minute from a free kick. Japans third came in the 83rd with another header, this time from Otsu, after a cross.Egypts best chance came in the 77th, when a dipping shot from midfielder Mohamed El Neny appeared to be going in but Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda dived to his right and made the save…

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