Sports

Iniesta spoils Torres' retirement game in Japanese league

Sat, 24 Aug 2019

Tokyo, Aug 24

Sagan Tosus Fernando Torres has lost his final match as a professional football player 6-1 to visitor Vissel Kobe in the Japanese first division league.

The Madrid-born forward put an end to his 18-year career in a match that was spoiled by his countryman, Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta, who left the game all but won when he was forced out of the pitch in the 45th minute on Friday.

The former Barcelona player started to gain control over the midfield, while Torres was energetic inside the area, waiting for the perfect chance to head home, reports Efe news.

After 10 minutes of play, Yamaguchi got Vissel on the scoreboard with a shot that found the back of the net, successfully culminating an attack started by Iniesta. Nearly 10 minutes later, Iniesta doubled the score for his team from the 12-yard spot.

Iniesta sought out more goals and he had what he wanted a couple of minutes later when he played a perfect long pass only for Furuhashi to set up Tanaka for the third goal. However, Iniesta had to be taken off the pitch shortly before the half-time whistle due to a thigh discomfort.

Sagan Tosu's fans, which did not stop chanting the name of the former Atletico Madrid player throughout the game, tried to energize the team in the early stages of the second half.

Coach Kim Myung-Hwi also sent one more forward on in a bid to change the game dynamics.

Vissel Kobe took advantage of Sagan Tosu's impulse as Furushashi scored twice and Yamaguchi completed a brace of his own.

A frustrated Torres had three clear scoring chances to close the gap but it did not materialize.

Sagan Tosu got onto the scoreboard with an own goal by Vermaelen who inadvertently scored while trying to clear a corner.

The defeat complicated the situation of Sagan Tosu, which is 16th out of the total 18 teams in the points table, with the bottom two sides at the end of the season getting relegated.

Torres has played 39 matches with the Japanese club, scoring seven goals, the last of which came on 14 August against Kashiwa Reysol to help Sagan move on to the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup.

Following the game, the Japanese club paid homage to the 35-year-old on the pitch.

Torres, who had a spell at AC Milan, also said that he will continue to be associated with the Japanese team after his retirement.

Iniesta spoils Torres' retirement game in Japanese league

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