Stuttgart finish 'unforgettable' Japan tour with another five-goal win
Stuttgart have finished their tour of Japan with 10 goals in two games, and memories to last a lifetime.
VfB Stuttgart have finished their second tour of Japan with flying colours, beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima 5-2 after a 5-3 win over Kyoto Sanga.
The first match in Kameoka saw VfB come back from 3-0 down to win by two goals, with new signing Justin Diehl getting his second goal for the club in pre-season. The second game in Hiroshima was far more straightforward, and fans got to see summer arrival Nick Woltemade score his first in red and white.
Discussing the trip as a whole, head coach Sebastian Hoeneß said: “Our trip to Japan has been very positive. We shared some special experiences. A lot of us hadn’t been to Japan before. I’m very impressed by the people of Japan. We were given a wonderful welcome and it was a very valuable trip for us, one that I probably won’t forget for the rest of my life.”
Watch: Kyoto Sanga 3-5 Stuttgart highlights
The team also embarked on a number of fan, media and cultural activites such as sushi trips, a baseball match and getting out and about in Osaka. Among a group of former Stuttgart players travelling was Guido Buchwald, who spent six years in Japan as a player, coach and sporting director.
Rouven Kasper, head of marketing at VfB Stuttgart, said: "We are delighted to be the official ambassador of the Bundesliga in Japan this year and to present German football there together with our partners and the DFL partners.
"VfB has had good contacts in Japanese football for many years and has cultivated these in the past through activities of our football school, mutual visits by junior teams, media presence and coach training. Now we are taking the next logical step in the summer by doing part of our pre-season preparation in Japan."
See where other clubs are touring this summer
Recap the best of the tour below:
Safe arrival
Home bound
Watch: Highlights of Stuttgart's win to round out their tour
Watch: Stuttgart take on Japanese freestylers!
Hoeneß on 'unforgettable' tour of Japan
Sebastian Hoeneß on the Hiroshima win
Japan tour ends with another victory
Watch: VfB stars face back-to-back challenge
Adventure ahead
Demirovic enjoying Japan
Stiller arrives
Goal scorer Diehl on the comeback
Hoeneß isn't satisfied
Sebastian Hoeneß on Kyoto Sanga win
VfB kick-off with win
Watch: Stuttgart start tour of Japan
Japanese academy graduate Anrie Chase on joining the first team
Sebastian Hoeneß on Japan tour
Jeff Chabot on training in Osaka
VfB set for day one of Japan tour
Stuttgart squad
VfB land in Japan today
Yannik Keitel on the trip to Japan
A busy summer so far
The state of play
Two friendlies
Welcome!
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