Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Wuhan: Four second-half goals were enough to kick-off Japan’s AFC U-16 Women’s Championship campaign with a win as Fuka Nagano, Riko Ueki, Hinata Miyazawa and Saori Takarada were all on target as the defending champions claimed a 4-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Xinhua Road Stadium on Thursday.
A determined defensive performance from Uzbekistan in the first half had frustrated the 2013 winners, but captain Nagano was able to find the breakthrough in the 55th minute before Ueki added a second just four minutes later.
Miyazwa netted Japan’s third with 13 minutes remaining before Takarada’s fortuitous fourth on the 80th minute gave a scoreline that reflected Japan’s dominance as Naoki Kusunose’s side moved to second place in Group B behind DPR Korea after the North Koreans defeated Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the day’s other fixture.
“It was a good start for us to pick up the three points and it sets us up well for the rest of the tournament,” said Japan coach Kusunose, whose side will face Chinese Taipei on Saturday.
“We started a bit poorly and were nervous at first, because this is a world-class championship, but we performed better in the second half after we focused more on our forward play.”
Japan edged the tightly-fought opening period and centre-back Takarada had an opportunity to open the scoring on 11 minutes but could only direct Nagano’s shot-cum-cross over Maftuna Jonimqulova’s goal from six-yards out.
The defending champions continued to control the half thereafter and Haruka Miura’s flicked through ball should have been finished by strike-partner Ueki but she was denied by Jonimqulova, who also blocked Miura’s follow-up.
Ueki then went close with a diving header as Japan cranked up the pressure but Uzbekistan’s resolute defence, and some wayward shooting from the Young Nadeshiko, meant they maintained the goalless stalemate at the half-time break.
The second half began in much the same fashion with Japan attacking from the kick-off, and after 10 minutes they showed the clinical edge they had been lacking as Ueki’s pull-back from the left gave Nagano the time and space to fire home past an exposed Jonimqulova.
And just before the hour mark, Japan had their second. Jonimqulova pulled off a magnificent save to deny Miura from close range, but the rebound landed at the feet of Ueki who netted the loose ball with ease.
On 73 minutes, a subtle pass from Mayu Karahashi then put Nagano in acres of space inside the area but she drove her low shot into the side-netting and narrowly off the left-hand upright.
But in the next attack, just four minutes later, second-half substitute Miyazawa was played in by Ueki to rifle home Japan’s third, before Takarada added a fourth when Jonimqulova fumbled her long-range effort and it rolled over the line.
The over-worked Jonimqulova made up for the error to deny Ueki in spectacular fashion shortly after but Japan finished the game comfortably on top and in dominant form.
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“We fought so hard in the first half and did the best we could but it was very hard for us in the second period as we realised just how strong Japan are,” said Uzbekistan coach Bahrom Norsafarov, who will have a day to prepare his side for another East Asian powerhouse in the form of DPR Korea on Saturday.
“Physically we were fine, but psychologically maybe we weren’t ready for such a tough opponent like Japan.”
Photo: WSG