Japan defeated Mali 1-0 in the second round of the Paris Olympics men’s football group stage, securing their spot in the knockout stage with a game to spare. Japanese goalkeeper Kubo Reo received widespread praise after the match.
Japan secured their place in the quarter-finals thanks to Yamamoto Ri’s goal. Following the match, Japanese fans lauded Kubo Reo Brian, who had once again kept a clean sheet and emerged as a hero in the victory.
Kubo made a number of impressive saves during the match, including a one-handed block of a close-range shot, firmly guarding the goal. Notably, when the opposition was awarded a penalty near the end of the match, Kubo reacted calmly, his strong presence forcing the opponent to miss the goal, leaving the audience in awe.
After the match, Kubo topped the trending searches, with fans showering him with praise: “His pressure was too strong, he directly scared the opponent into missing the penalty! Kubo is a god!” “That ball wasn’t missed by the Mali player, he blocked it!” “This guy is too strong! He pushed the penalty out of bounds with pure momentum!” “The problem of Japan’s national team goalkeeper is solved, we’re good for the next 10 years!”
Japanese journalist Otsuka Hiroo pointed out that Kubo was the star of the match, and without him, Japan would not have won. The most exciting moment came in the 6th minute of stoppage time in the second half during the penalty. Despite having data on the opposing player’s shot direction beforehand, Kubo kept a watchful eye on the player’s movements and leaped to the right at the perfect time, extending his right arm to make a powerful save. The ball ultimately went wide of the right side of the goal. Kubo’s previous impressive saves had put immense pressure on the opposing player, leading to the missed penalty.
In both matches, Kubo collaborated with the defense line, actively participating in the attack, acting as the 11th player on the field. With strong footwork, a tall stature, quick reflexes, and a calm demeanor, he earned the complete trust of his teammates. Kubo is undoubtedly Japan’s best goalkeeper. It is hoped that Japan’s head coach Moriyasu Hajime will boldly allow Kubo to start in the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup in September.
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