Nanjing: Japan made it a perfect three from three to finish top of Group B – and eliminate Korea Republic – with a 2-0 win in their AFC U-19 Women’s Championship match at the Jiangning Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday.
A second-half strike from substitute Asato Miyagawa and a long range free-kick from Moeka Ninami were decisive, meaning the Koreans will miss the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2010.
Futsohi Ikeda made no less than eight changes to the Japan team who put five past Australia, and although they had already racked up 13 goals in the competition, only three of them came from players who started the match against Korea Republic.
Jong Song-chon’s side came into the match knowing a win would see them advance, but anything less was almost certain to spell the end of their streak of U-20 Women’s World Cup appearances.
Understandably, both sides started cautiously, and neither was able to produce anything resembling a consistent goal threat in a cagey opening period.
Japan, while in the ascendancy possession wise, lacked their usual cutting edge, with a well-organised Korean defence proving difficult to break down.
In a half of no clear cut chances, Mizuka Sato came as close as anyone to breaking through, but her lunging 42nd minute never seriously threatened the Korean goal.
With the teams locked at 0-0 at half-time, Japanese head coach Ikeda introduced Miyagawa, and it took less than four minutes for the substitute to change the face of the match.
Receiving the ball with her back to goal around 30 metres out, Miyagawa turned and hammered a superb long range strike beyond Kim Yea-lin and into the top left-hand corner of the net.
As in their previous matches, the Young Nadeshiko stepped it up a notch in the period just after half-time and – with Australia easily beating Vietnam 5-2 in the other match – Korea Republic had a mountain to climb if they were to take their stay in Nanjing into a second week.
Jong brought Sim Seo-hui into the action, and she drew a save, albeit a comfortable one, from Japanese goalkeeper Hannah Stambaugh with an effort from a Korean corner kick with 20 minutes remaining.
Mami Muraoka’s shot from a tight angle forced a great save from Kim Yea-lin in the 78th minute, before Yui Fukuta slammed the rebound over the crossbar, but the decisive blow would come from Minami.
Taking a free-kick from the left flank, around 35 metres from the Korean net, captain-for-the-day Minami swung the ball into the box, over the head of the goalkeeper and into the upright, before it rolled in.
Minami’s goal realistically signaled the end of Korea Republic’s chances, both in the match and the tournament as a whole.
They got closer to Japan than anyone else in Group B, and exit the tournament with the best record of any of the eliminated teams, but that will provide little consolation to a team that will surely see their Matchday One loss to Australia as an opportunity missed.
Japan, on the other hand, will arrive in the final four with a perfect record for the second straight edition of the tournament, and will go into Wednesday’s semi-final against hosts China PR as firm favourites.
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com