SYDNEY (AP) — When Saki Kumagai scored to make it 3-0 on Wednesday, it was clear the Japanese team would beat South Korea and qualify for the finals. Australia 3rd time in 4 Women’s Asian Cup tournament.
Riko Ueki scored the opening goal in the 15th minute, and in the 25th minute, Maika Hamano scored with her right foot between the near post and the goalkeeper, giving Japan a 2-0 lead at halftime. Kumagai and Remina Chiba added second-half goals, and Japan capitalized on abundant possession and field position to earn a lopsided 4-1 victory over the 2022 runners-up in the semi-finals at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
South Korea In the group stage, they surpassed the Australian team in goal difference, but struggled from the start against Asia’s top team, Japan.
Japan could have taken a 3-0 lead before halftime with Fujino Aoba’s goal in the 43rd minute, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review due to a handball fairly early in the attack.
Japan Increased the number of goals to 27 In the 75th inning of the continental championship, Kumagai headed Momoko Tanikawa’s swinging corner kick. This was only the fourth goal in her long international career.
Nadeshiko finally conceded a goal in this tournament in the 78th minute when Kang Chae-rim turned around and hit a right-footed shot from close range.
However, Chiba restored a three-goal buffer with a powerful blow in the 81st inning to make it 4-1 and give Japan momentum heading into Saturday’s final in Sydney.
“Don’t tell Australia, but we played better than today. But today was good and I was happy for them,” said Japan coach Nils Nielsen. “It’s not easy, so you kind of get into a rhythm, and it wasn’t that rhythm. I needed to find more, I needed to find more gear, and I did that.”
Japan defeated Australia in consecutive finals in 2014 and 2018, but neither team made it to the championship match in 2022, with China defeating South Korea in the final.
Since joining the Asian Confederation, Australia has advanced to the championship game four times, but won the title only once, in 2010. Japan lost in the final four times, but won the title for the first time in 2014.
Japan is the only Asian team to win the Women’s World Cup, defeating the United States on penalties in the 2011 final.
australian progress
sam carr He scored the winning goal in the 58th minute, giving Australia a 2-1 victory in the first semi-final match. defending champion chinaTwo years after losing in the World Cup semi-finals on home soil.
All four semifinalists here automatically qualified for the qualifiers. 2027 Women’s World Cup.
In the playoffs for Brazil’s remaining two spots on Thursday, Taiwan will play North Korea and the Philippines will play Uzbekistan on the Gold Coast.
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