AFC Women's Asian Cup
The two-time winners finished with nine points and will meet the Philippines next while defeat meant Vietnam missed out on a place in the quarter-finals.
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Only Yui Hasegawa and Saki Kumagai retained their places in the Japan lineup that started in the 11-0 win against India on Matchday Two, while Vietnam made four changes with Khong Thi Hang in goal and Huynh Nhu and Pham Hai Yen on the bench.
Riko Ueki almost put Japan ahead within seconds of the opening whistle when Maika Hamano spotted her run down the centre with a cross, only for the West Ham United forward to flash her attempt just wide.
Riko Ueki almost put Japan ahead within seconds of the opening whistle when Maika Hamano spotted her run down the centre with a cross, only for the West Ham United forward to flash her attempt just wide.
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It was then Hasegawa’s chance to cause problems but she sliced her volley wide from distance in the fifth minute before seeing her effort from inside the box closed down by the Vietnam defence moments later.
Vietnam stayed compact with their five-strong defence but showed they could be dangerous on the counter-attack when Ngan Thi Van Su tested Ayaka Yamashita with an effort from outside the box.
Vietnam stayed compact with their five-strong defence but showed they could be dangerous on the counter-attack when Ngan Thi Van Su tested Ayaka Yamashita with an effort from outside the box.
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Japan’s persistent prodding finally led to the opener in the 21st minute after Ueki met Hasegawa’s cross, sending the ball with a powerful looping header into the top right corner of the net.
As Japan continued to press, Thi Hang kept Vietnam in the game - first pulling off a brilliant save to stop Aoba Fujino’s volley from close range at the half-hour mark, then denying Ueki’s powerful header nine minutes later before keeping out the forward’s lob at the far post.
As Japan continued to press, Thi Hang kept Vietnam in the game - first pulling off a brilliant save to stop Aoba Fujino’s volley from close range at the half-hour mark, then denying Ueki’s powerful header nine minutes later before keeping out the forward’s lob at the far post.
Group C: Japan v Vietnam
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Japan maintained their intensity after the break, needing only six minutes to double their lead when Momoko Tanikawa laid a perfect pass for substitute Maika Hamano, who nutmegged Tran Thi Thu Thao to send the ball into the back of the net.
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Vietnam fell further behind in the 64th minute from another well-worked build-up when Tanikawa picked out Fujino, who steered past her marker before finding the bottom right corner.
Substitutes Hinata Miyazawa and Kiko Seike then combined brilliantly three minutes later with the latter drilling her shot into the net to seal the empathic victory.
Substitutes Hinata Miyazawa and Kiko Seike then combined brilliantly three minutes later with the latter drilling her shot into the net to seal the empathic victory.
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