PERTH, Australia (AP) — Japan maintained a perfect defensive record to advance to the quarterfinals. Women’s Asian Cup Taiwan and the Philippines also qualified on Tuesday, with clean sheets and wins.
That day when the performance on the field was overshadowed by the five players of the Iranian team granted asylum In the host country Australia’s match, Japan defeated Vietnam 4-0, securing the Philippines’ spot on goal difference.
A clash between players marred Taiwan’s 3-1 victory over India. The goalkeepers of both teams were sent off after receiving blows to the head.
Japan has a perfect record
Japan heads into the quarterfinals against the Philippines with three wins from three games and one win and one loss. 17 goals, the most in the tournament. Japan is the only team yet to concede a goal in the Asian Cup.
Vietnam entered the match against Japan knowing that if Taiwan could avoid losing to India, they would lose their right to compete in the third-best team with a three-goal difference.
Vietnam goalkeeper Cong Thi Hung made a series of great saves to keep Japan ahead 1-0 at half-time, but he was under constant pressure from his opponent, who had scored 11 goals against India.
Riko Ueki scored the opening goal, her fourth goal of the tournament, while Maika Hamano, Aoba Fujino, and Kiko Seike scored against the Vietnamese defense. Japan will face the Philippines in the quarterfinals.
Vietnam’s Duong Thi Van was sent off late in the match after colliding heads with Japan’s Mina Tanaka.
Injured people in Taiwan and India
After defeating India, Taiwan will face China in the quarterfinals, but the result leaves concerns over the safety of key players from both teams.
Su Yushuang’s goal gave Taiwan the lead, before Manisha Kalyan’s free kick hit the crossbar to put India back into the match. The penalty hit the post and Taiwan regained the lead with an own goal from Indian goalkeeper Eranbam Pantoy Chanu.
Taiwan was leading 2-1 when goalkeeper Wang Yuting was sent off after being diagnosed with a head injury. Although the immediate cause was not clear, Wang had previously continued playing after a collision in which Sanfida Nongrum’s shoulder touched her head.
Near the end of the second half, Chen Yu-ching scored Taiwan’s third goal to seal the victory, but two Indian players tried to stop her and they collided, resulting in her being carried away on a stretcher.
Goalkeeper Pantoy lunged at Cheng and as she jumped to make a save, defender and captain Sweety Devi’s knee hit her in the face. Pansoy was taken away on a stretcher due to severe swelling on his face, while Devi remained motionless on the ground for some time before being carried off the field.
It was the second time Pansoy received medical treatment after being hit in the head. In the first half, he was hit with a shot and fell back and hit his head on the ground.
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