Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Osaka: Substitute Mana Iwabuchi scored the only goal with 10 minutes remaining as Japan rounded off their AFC Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016 qualifier with a 1-0 win over DPR Korea on Wednesday.
Iwabuchi’s header handed Japan a second consecutive win in Osaka having beaten Vietnam 6-1 on Monday, although the 2012 silver medalists had already seen their hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games ended prior to kick-off on Wednesday.
DPR Korea had also seen their qualification hopes ended heading into the final fixture at the six-team tournament after losing 2-1 to Australia at the start of the week.
“The players were really looking forwards and trying to attack. In the first three games we didn’t really do that and I have to take a lot of responsibility for that. The players did very well today and are now looking to the future, and they deserve praise for that,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki.
“In the first game and second game we couldn’t take three points. I think if we had been able to do that we might have had a chance. I think you can see that looking at the game today and the way we played. If we could have had our rhythm then it may have been different.
“Before the game we looked at the way DPR Korea play and thought we would have chances if we tried to switch play.”
With the match beginning on a damp surface following an earlier downpour, DPR Korea had the first clear sight on goal in the 26th minute, but after turning Mizuho Sakaguchi sharply on the edge of the penalty area to make space for the shot, Wi Jong-sim could only direct her attempt straight at Japan goalkeeper Erina Yamane.
Japan had the bulk of possession for the remainder of the first half, but DPR Korea pressed quickly and prevented the 2012 silver medalists from creating any clear goal-scoring opportunities.
The reigning AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions injected some pace into their attacking forays at the start of the second half, though, bringing on Bayern Munich’s Iwabuchi, and Yukari Kinga fired a warning shot in the 47th minute, driving an effort from range which flew just wide of Hong Myong-hui’s right post.
And as Japan became more adventurous, DPR Korea began to focus on counter-attacking swiftly, and went close twice in the space of a few early second half minutes.
First, in the 52nd minute, Kim Yun-mi seized upon a loose ball in the middle of the park and laid it quickly forward to Ra Un-sim, but the striker could not get enough power in her shot to trouble Japan goalkeeper Yamane.
Then, three minutes later, Wi Jong-sim unleashed a snapshot as the ball fell to her on the edge of the Japan area, which whistled narrowly wide after picking up a deflection on the way through.
But Japan did not change their approach, though, and Kumi Yokoyama went close in the 66th minute, showing good technique to wriggle into space before curling an attempt just past the post from 20 yards.
And 10 minutes later the hosts came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock as Emi Nakajima beat Hong Myong-hui to a Saori Ariyoshi cross from the left, but that, too, dropped just wide of the target.
But Japan got their rewards in the 80th minute, however, as Iwabuchi headed smartly home from Aya Miyama’s delicate cross from the left of the area.
“We knew before this match that we couldn’t go to Rio for the Olympic Games. Even though this match had no meaning in that respect it was still very competitive,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang-min.
“I think our players gained valuable experience in this game, and we will try to use that in combination with the other experience we have picked up in this competition as a whole in order to do our best in future tournaments.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports