PERTH: Hinata Miyazawa and Riko Ueki both hit hat-tricks as Japan powered to the cusp of the Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals with a statement 11-0 demolition of an outclassed India on Saturday.
Yuzuki Yamamoto scored after just four minutes to begin the rout in Perth and Japan were 5-0 up by halftime, with Manchester United’s Miyazawa netting twice.
It was more of the same in the second half, with West Ham United’s Ueki netting a quickfire treble and Miyazawa also scoring her third of the match.
The one-sided romp left Japan top of Group C with a maximum six points having beaten Taiwan 2-0 to start their title bid.
They have scored 13 goals and are yet to concede.
Taiwan and Vietnam each have three points and India are rock-bottom of the group with none.
Taiwan revived their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds with a 1-0 win over Vietnam in stifling heat in Perth earlier in the day.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 26th minute through Su Yu-hsuan when she nodded in from close range.
Vietnam beat India 2-1 to begin their tournament but, in temperatures approaching 40C, they found Taiwan to be a different proposition in front of a sparse crowd bathed in baking sunshine.
Vietnam ramped up the pressure in the closing stages but mustered just one shot on target all game.
North Korea, South Korea and hosts Australia are all already into the last eight with a game to spare, as are reigning champions China.
Japan hammer India 11-0 in Women’s Asian Cup mismatch
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Japan hammer India 11-0 in Women’s Asian Cup mismatch
- Yamamoto scored after just four minutes to begin the rout in Perth and Japan were 5-0 up by halftime
- Taiwan and Vietnam each have three points and India are rock-bottom of the group with none
China beat North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B
- Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage
SYDNEY: Defending champion China edged North Korea 2-1 in a physical, high-energy game Monday to take top spot in Group B in the Women’s Asian Cup.
The result sent North Korea into a quarterfinal Friday against Australia in Perth, where the hosts and 2023 World Cup semifinalists opened the tournament with a win over Philippines.
China and North Korea were already assured of quarterfinal spots with two wins apiece ahead of their showdown at Western Sydney Stadium. Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage.
Playing in their first Women’s Asian Cup tournament since losing the 2010 final to Australia, North Korea only needed a draw against China to top the group. And they took the lead when Kim Kyong Yong finished off a counter-attacking goal in the 32nd minute, the first shot on goal in the game.
The lead was shortlived, though, with China equalizing two minutes later with Chen Qiaozhu’s stunning strike through traffic from the edge of the area.
China went ahead in a tense finish to the first half, when Wang Shuang’s goal was awarded after a VAR review deep in stoppage time.
The VAR decision to overturn the assistant referee’s offside call upset the North Korean players and led to coach Ri Song Ho being yellow carded by referee Thi Ly Le as his team protested on the sideline. The North Korean players didn’t return to the pitch before halftime was called.
Both teams had chances in the second half, with North Korea goalkeeper Yu Son Gum making a full-length diving save to Wang’s powerful left-foot shot in the 78th, and then 19-year-old Choe Il Son appearing to equalize two minutes later before being ruled offside after a VAR review.
In Perth, Dildora Nozimova scored twice in six minutes for Uzbekistan, her first just two minutes after entering the game as a substitute on the hour.
State of play
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.
In Group A, South Korea edged Australia for top spot on goal difference after the 3-3 draw in Sydney on Sunday night. The South Koreans will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals. Philippines still have a narrow chance of advancing after placing third, finishing with a win over Iran. That put Iran women’s team out of contention, and facing the prospect of a return to country at war.
In Group C, two-time champion Japan lead with six points ahead of their last group match against Vietnam, who are tied with Taiwan for second spot on three points. Taiwan finish the group stage against India.
