Japan’s women battered Taiwan 3-0 in the four-nation East Asian soccer championship yesterday, with star player Mana Iwabuchi scoring her first goals for the top national squad.
Following the victory Japan have two wins for six points, while China and South Korea each have three points after one win and one loss each. Taiwan have lost twice.
Japan opened the scoring in the 36th minute, when the 16-year-old striker, making her second appearance for the national team, dashed to an Aya Miyama cross inside the box to score.
PHOTO: AFP
The best player at the 2008 under-17s women’s World Cup, Iwabuchi scored her second goal in the 59th minute after sprinting by Taiwanese striker Tseng Shu-o to slide behind goalkeeper Huang Feng-chiu and send a Manami Nakano cross into the net.
Japan added the third goal in the 85th minute when striker Megumi Takase beat defender Chen Ya-huei on the left side of the box and fired a right-footer into the net.
Japan coach Norio Sasaki said he had started some less experienced players for the match to give them an opportunity to play before home fans at the National Stadium.
“There were some mistakes. But in the 90 minutes they won 3-0. I respect that,” he said.
Despite freezing rain, Japan staged waves of attacks on the Taiwanese goal mouth.
Japan added speed and improved their rhythm after veteran midfielder Homare Sawa replaced Miyama in the 58th minute.
She fired a barrage of shots from outside the box and distributed sharp passes so Japanese attackers could pound Taiwan.
Taiwan coach Chou Tai-ying conceded that her side had remained on the defensive throughout the game under the Japanese onslaught.
“Japan were obviously a strong team. We had to focus on our defense. But we did our best until the final minute,” she said.
“Japan started with many substitute members, so it was positive for us psychologically. But in the second half, we saw veterans coming to the pitch and that changed the mood of the game completely,” she said.
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