Japan goalkeeper Kawashima to sign with Lierse SK

Japan goalkeeper Kawashima to sign with Lierse SK

Published Jul. 6, 2010 7:17 a.m. ET

World Cup goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima left Japan on Tuesday to sign a contract with Belgian side Lierse SK.

Kawashima played all four World Cup matches for Japan after winning the starting job with a strong performance in a tuneup match against England on May 30.

Kawashima, who spent the last three seasons with the J-League's Kawasaki Frontale, is bidding to become the second Japanese keeper to play in Europe following Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who played for England's Portsmouth in 2001-02 and Denmark's FC Nordsjaelland in 2003-04.

Japan beat Cameroon and Denmark in group matches at the World Cup before being defeated in a penalty shootout by Paraguay in the round of 16.

ADVERTISEMENT
share