AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup
The six-time champions, who have won three of four consecutive finals, face defending champions DPR Korea on Saturday as the-AFC.com takes a look at how their campaign unfolded.
Group Stage
Japan made a roaring start to Group A with a 6-0 defeat of India as five players found the back of the net, with the South Asian side contributing an own goal to add to their opponents’ tally.
Japan made a roaring start to Group A with a 6-0 defeat of India as five players found the back of the net, with the South Asian side contributing an own goal to add to their opponents’ tally.
#U20WAC | Group C: Japan 5-2 Australia
They faced more resistance in their following tie against Chinese Taipei, but eased to a 2-0 win after a first-minute goal from Haruko Suzuki and another from Yura Honda before the half-hour mark to qualify for the last eight stage with a match to spare.
The 2024 finalists trailed by a goal against Australia in their final match before regrouping to win 5-2 as Noa Fukushima and Miki Kimura both netted twice to confirm Japan as group winners with a total of 13 goals.
The 2024 finalists trailed by a goal against Australia in their final match before regrouping to win 5-2 as Noa Fukushima and Miki Kimura both netted twice to confirm Japan as group winners with a total of 13 goals.
Quarter-final
Vietnam did well to hold Japan back in the opening minutes, but cracks began to appear in their defence and Mao Itamura opened the scoring in the 18th minute.
Vietnam did well to hold Japan back in the opening minutes, but cracks began to appear in their defence and Mao Itamura opened the scoring in the 18th minute.
#U20WAC | Q-final: Japan 4-0 Vietnam
The Southeast Asian side’s backline finally crumbled in first-half time added on when Natsumi Tago and Fukushima both scored within the span of a minute.
Itamura’s second goal - a 61st-minute screamer from 25-yards - sealed a comprehensive 4-0 win to book them a place in the last four.
Itamura’s second goal - a 61st-minute screamer from 25-yards - sealed a comprehensive 4-0 win to book them a place in the last four.
Semi-final
Japan were expected to face a tough battle against China PR, with the 2006 champions maintaining a 100 percent record in the group stage before dispatching Uzbekistan 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Japan were expected to face a tough battle against China PR, with the 2006 champions maintaining a 100 percent record in the group stage before dispatching Uzbekistan 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
#U20WAC | Semi-finals: China PR 0-2 Japan
Akira Ijiri’s side, however, piled on the pressure from the start and were rewarded with a fifth minute goal from Itamura, who slammed home after being set-up by Fukushima.
The midfielder then turned goal scorer when she fired a superb free-kick in the 24th minute, expertly placing the ball into a narrow gap between a diving Liu Chen and the right post.
Japan had numerous opportunities to increase their advantage, but some fine work from Liu and a second-half resistance from China PR saw them move into the final with a confident 2–0 win.
The midfielder then turned goal scorer when she fired a superb free-kick in the 24th minute, expertly placing the ball into a narrow gap between a diving Liu Chen and the right post.
Japan had numerous opportunities to increase their advantage, but some fine work from Liu and a second-half resistance from China PR saw them move into the final with a confident 2–0 win.
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