Bayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tanikawa yesterday finally cracked a dogged Taiwan as powerhouse Japan won their AFC Women’s Asian Cup match in Perth, Australia, 2-0.
Brimming with a talented squad featuring 16 England-based players, Japan dominated a one-sided match played in fierce heat, but they were left frustrated by an inability to hit the target other than Tanikawa’s strike in the 61st minute and a header from substitute Kiko Seike in the 92nd minute.
The highest-ranked team in the competition at eight, Japan are desperate for a third title to add to their back-to-back triumphs in 2014 and 2018, but they would need to clean up their finishing touches after attempting 30 shots and enjoying almost 90 percent of possession.
Photo: EPA
Taiwan, who reached the last eight in the last edition in 2022, fought gamely with goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting producing a superb performance.
Under Greenland-born Nils Nielsen, Japan’s first foreign-born women’s coach, the team has vowed to play in a fast and brash manner. Japan were aggressive from the outset and peppered the goal, but without success.
Taiwan were clinging on against the odds with Wang pulling off a spectacular save to deny a bullet from Mina Tanaka. Tanikawa then hit the left post as Japan had an astonishing 13 shots within the opening 15 minutes.
Taiwan’s woes deepened when forward Pu Hsin-hui limped off the field after an apparent left knee injury.
They continued to bravely defend, leaving Japan flustered as the teams took a drinks break at the 32nd minute with the temperature hitting 36°C.
Japan came perilously close to breaking the deadlock just before halftime only for Wang to prove a torn. Taiwan’s embattled defense had 35 clearances in the first half, with each one cheered enthusiastically by vocal Taiwanese supporters, who livened up the sparse terraces.
Wang was again put to work after the interval as she smothered Tanaka’s attempt from short range, but she was finally helpless when Tanikawa slotted home after being on the receiving end of a superb pass from Hana Takahashi. Japan’s celebrations were made to wait with the video assistant referee needed to determine whether the ball deflected Tanikawa’s hand on the way down.
It was Japan’s only goal until Seike stepped up late.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
RSS