VfB took on Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Thursday in the final leg of their week-long Japan tour. Peace was very much the central theme at the newly built Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, with VfB winning the ‘Peace Match’ 5-2 in front of a lively, colourful crowd.
Sebastian Hoeneß’s team lifted their goal tally in Japan to ten, following up Sunday’s 5-3 triumph over Kyoto Sanga with another high-scoring victory to end the Japan Tour 2024 on a high note.
Goals:
17th minute: Angelo Stiller slots home unmarked to open the scoring after fine work from Jamie Leweling in the build-up.
55th minute: Nakajima Yotaro makes the most of indecision in the VfB defence to put Sanfrecce back on level terms.
63rd minute: VfB retake the lead courtesy of Ömer Beyaz’s long-range effort.
68th minute: Thomas Kastanaras rounds the Sanfrecce goalkeeper and slots home VfB’s third at the end of a marauding solo run.
76th minute: Marcos Júnior sends an eye-catching free-kick over the wall and into the net to make it 3-2.
78th minute: Nick Woltemade caps a fine move to restore VfB’s two-goal cushion.
90th minute: Moussa Cissé races clear down the left and buries the ball inside the near post to complete the scoring.
Reaction:
VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “It was as tough a game as we expected. I’m very pleased with our performance today – we were very focused. We could have led by more in the first half, but the fans were treated to a goal fest in the second. It was a great spectacle because, aside from the sporting aspect, today was about celebrating a festival of football. We’re proud to have been part of this ‘Peace Match’.
“Our trip to Japan has been very positive. We shared some special experiences. A lot of us hadn’t been to Japan before. I’m very impressed by the people of Japan. We were given a wonderful welcome and it was a very valuable trip for us, one that I probably won’t forget for the rest of my life.”
A special contest:
Thursday’s ‘Peace Match’ was intended to spread the message of peace from Hiroshima throughout the world.