Japan pricked by the Steel Roses

China PR stun defending champions via penalties

Japan pricked by the Steel Roses
Pic: Milind Saurkar

PUNE: Skipper Wang Shanshan turned out to be the gamechanger, literally. 

A dying minute equaliser and a winning penalty kick in the ‘shoot-out’ helped eight-time winners China waltz past Japan into their 11th final in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Japan, to many who watched the game, should have been deserving winners, based on sheer dominance, but reality stared clear and straight with China forcing a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win after ending extra time 2-2.

The result meant China having a crack at extending its title record to nine. Japan on the other hand smoked their dreams of a hat-trick of consecutive titles, a feat only China and Chinese Taipei achieved before.   

Japan played their hearts out and outdid China in all departments: possession (67-33), total shots (22-7), shots on target (6-2), it was just that the result tilted China’s way!

With chances aplenty, Japan rode on a brace by Riko Ueki. It was in Pune that striker Riko Ueki began her international journey of scoring goals.

Under lights, the 22-year-old once again starred with her first career 'double' and swelled her tally to 4, with one goal coming in Mumbai in the quarterfinal.

The night began with Japan creating the first chance. Mana Iwabuchi put Riko Ueki in the clear in the box, but a miscued outstep over goalkeeper Yu Zhu brought the attempt to nought.

In another attack, Risa Shimizu, from the right, switched a cross over to Riko Ueki. The later despite being a step ahead of defender Xiaoxue Wang squanded the chance.

Iwabuchi then showed brilliance. Riko in the box managed to square the ball for Iwabuchi who brilliantly turned defenders Xiaoxue Wang and Wang Shanshan, but ended up with her left-footed attempt going wide.

Japan was brilliant with their touch – deft and accurate. More could be said about their interceptions leaving China wanting for ideas and what transpired on pitch was Japanese domination.

China’s first inroad was when they forced their first corner kick. Taken indirectly, Chengshu Wu’s cross ensured Ayaka Yamashita, the Japan goalkeeper make her presence felt with an outstretched accrobatic punch. 

Finally, Japan's dominance earned reward when Ueki (26th) headed home 1-0. The build-up was worked out well. Fuka Nagano, finding space on the left, fed Hinata Miyazawa who on the run released a cross for Ueki to get her nod-in with the right angle and find the net.

At half time, Japan led 1-0.

China took two minutes after switching sides to level with Chengshu Wu (46th) directing the ball home off her thigh. The move was well orchestrated from the left. Xin Zhang combined with Wei Yao, who in turn switched quick and put substitute Yuyi Xiao clear the box. The chip that followed found Chengshu Wu, who used the advantage of being ahead of defender Moeka Minami, and the entire goal to her mercy slip the ball home despite Ruka Norimatsu on her shoulder.

It certainly seemed as if China came out with a new plan. Playing compact and adopting a rush- the-ball-approach, meant putting an end to Japan’s one-touch game. However, Japan remained dominant in possession.

Japan then had two close calls go begging. The hardworking Hasegawa instrumented both opportunities, which could have changed the fate of the match.

First, Hinata Miyazawa went wide after defender Xiaoxue Wang was found wanting again. And then, Riko Ueki had a howler of a miss garbling her try from outside the 6-yard box after goalkeeper Yu Zhu in a  mix up chased a ball wide leaving an open goal!

Such was the contrast between the teams that China, barring the goal, did not have a single shot on goal, Japan, with two close attempts, could not score. As a result, the full-time score rested at levels 1-1 extending the match to extra time.

Japan was unlucky in the first period of extra time. Hasegawa rocked the horizontal from inside the box.

Persistence finally paid off for Japan when Ueki netted her second of the night. An unnecessary freekick conceded by China mid-way into their own half proved costly. Hasegawa, undoubtedly the star of the night, did well to break the off-side trap with her chip and find Ueki bolt out of the blue and finish with a diving header. The goal momentarily was checked by VAR before being awarded.

China then had two close calls checked by the brilliance of 'keeper Yu Zhu – Hasegawa long shot was saved with a well executed prostrate dive and then Ueki’s goalward header off a corner-kick left the scoreline untouched.

But while Japan enjoyed the 2-1 advantage until 119 minutes, China was not giving up.

Showing nerves of steel till the end, the ‘Steel Roses’ stunned Japan. Xin Zhang from the left found captain Wang Shanshan. What followed was a brilliant on the run flick by Wang at the near post past the goalkeeper and push the game into penalty-kicks.

(Images: Milind Saurkar)

(MICKY AIGNER)