China missed a late penalty in a goalless draw with World Cup-bound Japan in the opening match of the East Asian championship yesterday.
Seigo Narazaki brilliantly saved Yang Hao’s spot-kick to salvage a point for the hosts, but the result will increase the mounting pressure on Japan coach Takeshi Okada.
The Blue Samurai were once again booed from the pitch in freezing Tokyo after a similar reaction to their 0-0 draw with Venezuela in a home friendly in midweek.
PHOTO: AFP
Fellow World Cup qualifiers and East Asian title holders South Korea face Hong Kong today in the second game of the four-team tournament.
■JAPAN 2, CHINA 0
AFP, TOKYO
Defending champions Japan beat China 2-0 yesterday in the opening match of the women’s East Asian championship.
In the 19th minute Japan scored their first when midfielder Aya Miyama struck a 30m right-footer that flew into the net off the post.
Japan kept the pressure on throughout the game, as China threatened to hit back with several decisive opportunities that nevertheless failed to find the net.
Japan scored again in the 61st minute when defender Yukari Kinga rushed to intercept a back-pass headed by Chinese midfielder Pang Fengyue to goalkeeper Zhang Yanru, which then bounced into the net.
By the end of the game, Japan had fired nine shots at goal, against China’s four, as they began the campaign to defend their title in the four-team tournament that also includes 2005 winners South Korea and Taiwan.
The stamina, speed and coordination of Japan’s defenders contributed to the victory, coach Norio Sasaki said.
“We were able to work as a team. Those qualities shut off the individual skills of the Chinese players,” Sasaki said.
Chinese coach Shang Ruihua praised Japan.
“The Japanese players kept up their speed compared with the Chinese players,” Shang said.
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