Hangzhou, China, October 6, 2023: Three goals in six second-half minutes ensured Japan successfully defended their Asian Games gold medal in the women’s football as Michihisa Kano’s side handed DPR Korea a 4-1 defeat at Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium on Friday.
Haruka Osawa, Momoko Tanikawa and Remina Chiba scored in a decisive spell for the Japanese, who had seen Yoshino Nakashima’s 10th minute opener cancelled out by Kim Kyong Yong seven minutes before the interval.
“We felt the tension and the atmosphere was quite interesting, but all our players played with confidence and faced up to the challenge of today’s match,” said Kano.
“We had some difficulties during the game but everyone worked together to overcome the challenges. In the second half we learned from the experience of the first half and we scored many goals and I’m very happy about that.
“The whole team was very united and today’s result was because of the efforts of the whole team.”
DPR Korea had been on the front foot throughout the opening exchanges, but it was Japan who took the lead through Nakashima, who latched on to Yuzuki Yamamoto’s perfectly flighted pass to hit a first-time strike on the run over the advancing Kim Un Hui.
Choe Ku Mok and Hong Song Ok both tried their luck from distance while, at the other end, Remina Chiba should have doubled Japan’s lead, only to steer her 26th minute header wide of goal.
With seven minutes remaining in the half DPR Korea were level, the Japanese defence unable to clear Wi Jong Sim’s low centre from the left to leave Kim Kyong Yong to crash her left foot shot into the bottom corner.
DPR Korea dominated throughout the opening 15 minutes of the second half but, after seeing Toko Koga clear Hong Song Ok’s effort off the line, the Japanese took control.
Osawa headed in Tanikawa’s corner from the left in the 66th minute to put Japan in front and, three minutes later, a handling error from goalkeeper Kim Un Hui allowed Tanikiawa’s shot from distance to fly into the goal.
Another three minutes later the Japanese had all but wrapped up the top spot on the podium as Chiba was released into acres of space behind the DPR Korea defence and she cut in towards goal to thump her shot over the beleaguered Kim.
*Earlier in the day China handed Uzbekistan a 7-0 thrashing to win the bronze medal, with Chen Qiaozhu scoring twice after Ou Yiyao had given the hosts the perfect start in the first minute. Wang Shansan, Wurigumala, Gu Yasha and Yao Wei were also on target.
“Every team has their wins and defeats but most importantly, we need to improve ourselves in these games,” said China’s coach Shui Qingxia.
“The victory today is really gratifying for me and for the whole team. We didn’t win the semi-final but our team has gained a lot of experience and that’s important. Through these matches we know what we are good at.”