AFC Women's Asian Cup
Riko Ueki and Hinata Miyazawa starred with hat-tricks as Japan sizzled from start to finish while defeat for India means they have to beat Chinese Taipei in their final match on Tuesday to stand a chance of advancing.
India made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 against Vietnam while Japan rang in nine alterations, with only Mina Tanaka and Yui Hasegawa retaining their places from the side that started in the 2-0 win against Chinese Taipei.
Japan didn’t have to wait long to go ahead, opening their account in the fourth minute through a spectacular effort from Yuzuki Yamamoto after the Tokyo Verdy Beleza forward nutmegged Pyari Xaxa before curling her shot into the top left corner.
India struggled to control Japan’s advances and fell further behind in the 13th minute with Yamamoto turning provider. Her cutback was met by Yui Hasegawa, whose drilled effort nutmegged Sweety Devi Ngangbam before settling in the back of the net.
Japan didn’t have to wait long to go ahead, opening their account in the fourth minute through a spectacular effort from Yuzuki Yamamoto after the Tokyo Verdy Beleza forward nutmegged Pyari Xaxa before curling her shot into the top left corner.
India struggled to control Japan’s advances and fell further behind in the 13th minute with Yamamoto turning provider. Her cutback was met by Yui Hasegawa, whose drilled effort nutmegged Sweety Devi Ngangbam before settling in the back of the net.
The third goal arrived seven minutes later from a well-worked move. Miyabi Moriya exchanged passes with Mina Tanaka before feeding Hasegawa, who teed-up Miyazawa to bury her shot into the top right corner.
Panthoi Chanu Elangbam did well to keep out Tanaka twice but was unable to prevent Japan’s fourth in the 35th minute when Miyazawa collected Tanaka’s through pass before calmly slotting past the Indian custodian.
Sweety’s foul on Saki Kumagai - playing her 165th match for Japan - led to Kiko Seike sending Panthoi the wrong way from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time.
Panthoi Chanu Elangbam did well to keep out Tanaka twice but was unable to prevent Japan’s fourth in the 35th minute when Miyazawa collected Tanaka’s through pass before calmly slotting past the Indian custodian.
Sweety’s foul on Saki Kumagai - playing her 165th match for Japan - led to Kiko Seike sending Panthoi the wrong way from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time.
Group C: India v Japan
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The goals continued to pour after the break with second half substitute Ueki finding the net two minutes in, finishing from close range off Maya Hijikata’s cross before doubling her tally three minutes later following a poor clearance by Juli Kishan.
Seike doubled her tally in the 55th minute after Panthoi spilled Moriya’s cross into the path of the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder for an easy tap in before Hijikata converted Yamamoto’s cross with a glancing header in the 62nd.
Seike doubled her tally in the 55th minute after Panthoi spilled Moriya’s cross into the path of the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder for an easy tap in before Hijikata converted Yamamoto’s cross with a glancing header in the 62nd.
Ueki completed her hat-trick three minutes later, finishing off Honoka Hayashi's delivery with a glancing header before supplying Miyazawa with a sublime pass at the far post for her third and Japan’s 11th of the night to complete the impressive win.
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