Edmonton’s Lam gets the start as JEF United plays for first time since earthquake

Edmonton native Matt Lam started and played 62 minutes for JEF United as Japanese football got back on its feet Sunday.

Lam, on loan from FC Edmonton to the second-division Japanese side, which is one of the favourites to earn promotion back to the top flight, got the start in a 3-0 win over FC Tokyo. It marked the first competitive game for either team since the devastating earthquake and tsunami killed tens of thousands in Japan.

When Lam came back to Canada for a break after the earthquake struck, he said he supported the decision of Japanese authorities to get pro soccer back on track as quickly as possible.

“I think the reason there’s such a rush on the schedule is that by playing, we can take people away from the chaos,” Lam said while we was in Edmonton. “We give something for people to look forward to. For an hour and a half or two hours, we can help fans escape the chaos that they are in.”

Lam’s brother, Sam, plays for FC Edmonton.

Norwegian striker Tor Hogne Aaroy, a six-foot-eight giant, scored twice for JEF United. All of the goals came after Lam had left the game.

JEF United is managed by Dwight Lodeweges, who brought Lam and Sander van Gessel over from FCE after coaching them in 2010 during the Alberta club’s season of friendlies as it prepared for its debut NASL season.

JEF United has now won both of its J-League Div. 2 matches, and has outscored the opposition 6-0.