kaiotic world: _Empate no jogo amigável entre Barcelona e INAK

Xavi Llorens’s side drew with INAC Kobe in a gripping duel in which both sides opted for attacking football

The Japanese side went ahead with a goal from Minamiyama, but Barça drew level before the break thanks to Olga García

FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell attended the game and wanted to congratulate the Barça players on their excellent season.

FC Barcelona - INAC Kobe / PHOTO: ÁLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB

FC Barcelona and INAC Kobe Leonessa met in a friendly in the Miniestadi sponsored by Seiko, and played in memory of the victims of the tsunami that hit Japan last March. It was a great encounter, with all eyes on Homare Sawa, winner of the recent Ballon d'Or for women, but it was also a great advertisement for the women's game in general, with both teams opting for attacking formats

First half goals

Minamiyama broke the offside trap to collect a Ji So-Yun assist and stick the ball past Sarasola. The Barça players protested handball, but to no avail.

The INAC goal took some of the wind out of the Catalans against one of the best teams in the world, but in the 38th minute Carol outwitted FIFA World Player Homare Sawa in a brilliant move that she will surely never forget. But the best was yet to come when Olga García latched onto a dead ball in the six-yard box following a free kick and thumped it cleanly into the back of the net.

More open second half

The Japanese also made changes, with Homare Sawa among the players substituted after a first half in which we got to see very little of her brilliance. But INAC Kobe have other top quality resources, including Ji So-Yun, whose through balls were a constant menace, but none of which produced goals thanks to some classy interventions by goalkeeper Ràfols. Barça also enjoyed chances of their own, with Melani and Marta particularly active in the second half.

But there was to be no further score and it finished all square between Barça and INAC Kobe in a game in which both sides showed that they are able to play the way football should be played, with first-touch passes and offensive play from start to finish.4

Jogo Completo: