With the scores locked at 1-1, midway through the second half against Lens, Martin Odegaard’s corner found its way to the arriving Takehiro Tomiyasu in the penalty area. The Japanese defender caught his first time shot sweetly, but it flew straight at Lens keeper Brice Samba and away to safety.
Within three minutes the French side went up the other end, and netted what proved to be the winner. It was a pivotal moment in our group stage defeat on Tuesday night.
After the game Tomiyasu discussed the missed opportunity, and the game in general. Here’s what he said in his post-match interview:
On the game…
Obviously it’s difficult to take because we could have taken three points, but we lost three points, so I am so disappointed with the result.
On the atmosphere and occasion…
We knew that it wouldn’t be an easy game for us. We created a lot of chances but we couldn’t score. Also for me I had a big opportunity to score, but I couldn’t score, so yeah I am so disappointed and it has to be a goal.
On whether it would have been a goal if he’d struck it either side of the keeper…
The goalkeeper told me it was a lucky moment because he didn’t react. I needed to put it into the net but I’ll have to score the next one
On what the team will learn…
Obviously now we have to move on from the defeat and we go to the match again on the weekend, so we have to focus on the game on the weekend.
On his thoughts ahead of facing Manchester City on Sunday…
Absolutely it’s a massive game for us. We have to focus on the next one and we have to do everything that we have to do and we can do.
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