Japan show their might against Australia
Nanjing: Reigning champions Japan came from a goal behind to produce a dazzling second half display, beating Australia 5-1 and retaining top spot in Group B at the 2017 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship.
Second-half goals from Asato Miyagawa (pictured below), Honoka Hayasahi, Hinata Miyazawa and a double from substitute Saori Takarada turned the game around for Japan, after Remy Siemsen had given Australia the lead after 13 minutes.
The result does not guarantee Japan’s progression to the semi-finals – nor, by any means, does it eliminate Australia – but their second half performance was one worthy of one of the best teams in Asia.
The Young Matildas started the game confidently, and Remy Siemsen – fresh from her game-breaking goal against Korea Republic on Monday – nearly gave them the lead in usual circumstances in the 5th minute, when her speculative pass across goal rolled and into the upright.
Just eight minutes later, a more deliberate Siemsen attempt found the net, as the striker intercepted a weak Reina Nagashima back pass before marvelously beating goalkeeper Aguri Suzuki from the edge of the penalty area.
Japan immediately looked to find a way back into the match, as Riko Ueki, Fuka Kono and Miyazawa – who came the closest – all had efforts at goal in the following 15 minutes.
Hayahsi looked certain to level the tie after being set up by Ueki, but an excellent last ditch tackle from Kaitlyn Torpey denied the Japanese captain.
Confusion in Japan’s defensive area nearly saw Australia benefit as a potential own goal from the foot of Riko Ushijima flew narrowly wide, before the Young Nadeshiko ended the half with three successive corner kicks, none of which produced a shot on target.
Never in tournament history had Japan tasted defeat in one of their first two matches, and after the break they immediately set about mounting a comeback.
It took them just six minutes to find an equaliser, as Miyagawa popped up to hammer home a loose ball after Jada Mathyssen-Whyman saved a close-range Ueki effort, herself having been smartly put through on goal by Kono.
Following the goal, head coach Futoshi Ikeda introduced Saori Takarada – scorer of a hat-trick against Vietnam – as Japan looked to turn their possession advantage into three points.
They gained the lead courtesy of a glorious goal from Hayashi in the 58th minute, as the captain thumped her shot into the bottom right hand corner from beyond the penalty area, leaving Mathyssen-Whyman helpless after a great build-up play from Ueki.
Japan were well and truly in the driver’s seat when Miyazawa got the end of the super team move to blast home from eight metres, as the four-time champions began to produce football of the highest order.
Ikeda’s side were too hot to handle, showing wonderful technical quality and launching one superb passing move after another, and their dominance produced another goal in the 72nd minute.
Ueki – who was outstanding for the second match running – weaved through the Australian defence and hammered a shot off the underside of the crossbar, leaving Takarada with the simple task of knocking the ball into the open net to make it 4-1.
Takarada added a final blow in stoppage time, poking home from point-blank range after a long-range effort had beaten Mathyseen-Whyman and fallen conveniently off the crossbar into her path.
Despite their loss, Australia are still well placed to qualify for the final four, provided they overcome rock-bottom in their final group match on Sunday, while Japan require only a draw against Korea Republic to qualify as group winners.
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com
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