Kashiwagi wants Urawa to learn from early exit

Yosuke Kashiwagi hopes Urawa Red Diamonds can return to the Fifa Club World Cup in future as a better side after finishing fifth following their 3-2 play-off win over Wydad Casablanca yesterday.

Defeat to the UAE’s Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi on Saturday at Zayed Sports City meant the Asian champions were only left with a consolation fixture against their African equivalents in Al Ain before they make the journey back to Japan.

After both sides had their title hopes extinguished, each performed with far more attacking verve second time around. Only three goals had been scored in the first 300 minutes of this competition, but the sides matched that tally within 26 minutes of kick off at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

Mauricio Antonio, Urawa’s Brazilian centre back, scored twice, including a brilliant 35-yard drive for the opening goal.

Kashiwagi scored the other as the Japanese side were comfortable winners despite conceding a goal via a penalty scored by Redha Hajhouj in injury time that was brought about after a video review.

Wydad’s other goal had come through a header in the first half from Mohammed Nahiri.

“The last match was a disappointment,” Kashiwagi, the Urawa playmaker, said of the loss to Jazira.

“We were very aggressive today. It was good we could take that aggression and score goals because of that.

“We wanted to do something like this in the first match. We couldn’t, but at least it was good that we managed to do so today.

“We wanted to get more recognition, to show that we are a great club. We want to come back to the tournament with more energy, a better record, and a better performance.”

Wydad manager Hussein Amotta echoed the sentiments that his side will be better off going forward for their experience of playing at this tournament.

Their pursuit of the title also ended when they lost on Saturday, following an extra-time 1-0 defeat to Pachuca, the Mexican side.

Amotta made several changes to his starting lineup following the toils of the 120 minutes at Zayed Sports City, and was pleased more players were able to experience playing at the Club World Cup.

“For this game, we wanted to give chances for more players as this was the last game of the World Cup,” Amotta said.

“We still wanted to give a good account of ourselves, and I think we played a good game. We had many chances, but we missed them, and that is the reason why we lost.

“It was an experience for our team. We learnt many things, and I hope we will get to play in the next version of the championship.”