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Sports
Osaka Fans in Check as Japan Advances in World Cup
Friday, June 29, 2018
By Allison Pestotink
Osaka - (PanOrient News)- Although Japan lost 1-0 against Poland in Thursday’s match in Volgograd, Russia, it was not all bad news for Japanese soccer fans. Not only did Japan still advance to the second round of the World Cup, but fans in Osaka managed to avoid injuries on the Ebisubashi bridge.
Prior to the match, Osaka mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura asked fans not to jump up and down on the bridge. The mayor expressed concern for the safety of both people and bridge.
Approximately 500 exuberant fans had previously jumped on the Ebisubashi bridge when Japan tied Senegal on June 25. Jumping on, and sometimes from, the river-straddling bridge has become a tradition for overjoyed baseball spectators in Osaka.
Prospects were looking grim for Japan on Thursday as Poland scored the first and only goal of the game in the 59th minute. However, as Colombia beat Senegal 1-0 in another match, it became apparent that Japan could still advance if the Japanese team received fewer yellow and red cards than Senegal.
With this “fair play rule” in mind, Japan played a calm rest of the game and ended up with four yellow cards compared with Senegal’s six. Thanks to Senegal becoming the first-ever team to be eliminated from the World Cup on the fair play rule, Japan will now advance to the next round of the competition.
Photo: Courtesy of Chunichi Sports
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