Keeper smashes two rivals with attempted punch

A Japanese goalkeeper had the consolation of taking out two rival players with an attempted clearing punch despite conceding a goal.

Footage from the J-League opening round shows Shonan Bellmare shot-stopper Yota Akimoto come off his line too late for a free kick against the Urawa Reds.

Striker Shinzo Koroki beats the goalkeeper’s double-fisted punch and heads the ball into the vacant net before getting cleaned up by Akimoto’s clenched right fist.

Remarkably, Koroki was not the only player to be hit by the goalkeeper’s fist, with Akimoto also collecting Reds captain Yuki Abe with his other hand.

Abe was floored by the blow but regained his feet and was able to see out the match.

Koroki received treatment for a facial injury as a result of the blow and was substituted four minutes later while the goalkeeper escaped a booking over the incident.

The newly-promoted Shonan Bellmare went down 3-1 despite the absence of Koroki in the second half.