It was the hard-fought close game everyone expected. And for the 3rd time in four World Cups, Japan managed to edge Mexico to win the medal.
Mexico surprised some by coming out in the I and were able to move the ball across midfield. Some poor openfield tackling hurt Japan throughout the game, allowing QB Rodrigo Perez to escape on a 3rd and 5.
Both defenses have prove unassailable on the perimeters.
With 5:00 to go in the half, Japan finally scored on a 15 yard scoring run from QB Tetsuo Takata. On the drive, Takata completed a 27-yard pass to Ken Shimizu, and was helped out by a personal foul called on R.G.B. Lopez.
Diego Viamontes took the ensuing kickoff up the field, and then down the right sideline. When he shifted gears, the Japanese kick coverage was outleveraged, and he took it 82 yards for a TD to tie the score at 7-all.
2 series later, Takeshi Miyake intercepted a Perez pass at the 45 and returned it to the 24, and a penalty for out hiting out of bounds took the ball to the 12. Daisuke Aoki's 23 yard field goal wit 0:35 remaining in the half gave Japan a 10-7 lead.
This in spite of the fact that Japan managed only 18 yards on the ground and 61 in the air, compared to 52 and 111 for Mexico. But Mexico's 7 penalties for 67 yards swung things in Japan's favor.
Japan took the opening drive of the 3rd quarter 60 yards. From the Mexico 19 takata completed a burst corner eoute to Maeda for a TD to make it 17-7.
On Japan's next drive, they began a 9-minute 18-play drive from their own 30 to the Mexico 4 yard line- the key play being a fake punt on 4th and 7 from the 35 with Shun Sugawara completing an 18 yard pass to Michihiro at the end of the 3rd quarter. On 3rd and goal, a reverse pass by Ogawa back to Takata was snuffed out, and the chip shot FG was missed.
Mexico promptly moved from their own 20 drove to midfield mixing runs and passes, and apparent trick play TD pass to Heriberto Salazar was ruled an illegal forward pass. Perez and Salazar finally did get the TD from 10 yards out, to tighten things up at 17-14 with 3:54 remaining.
Japan strung together a couple of first downs, before Mexico was able to stop them around midfield, using up all their time outs.
Mexico started their final drive at their own 20. Daniel Rolsen made it up the sidelines to the 40 on 2nd down.
Perez crossed midfield, and was hit out of bounds giving Mexico the ball at the 35 with 12.5 seconds left. An out was ruled incomplete, and Mexico lined up for a FG with 8.9 seconds left. Fearing a fake, Japan called their final TO.
But when the kick attempt finally came, it was blocked, and Japan escaped with a 17-14 victory.
Mexico finished with 299 yards in total offense, compared to 253 for Japan,. Mexico's defense held Japan to 58 yards on the ground on 22 carries.
