A stunning strike from winger Maika Hamano was enough to fire Japan to a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Matildas in the final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup at Accor Stadium.
Caitlin Foord had a glimpse of goal in the 11th minute after she was picked out by Mary Fowler inside the Japan box, however the Arsenal forward shot straight at the keeper in a huge let off for the opposition.
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Japan opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the 17th minute as winger Maika Hamano turned on the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable strike that flew into the far corner to silence Accor Stadium.
Foord was then gifted a glorious chance to bag the equaliser in the 35th minute as Japanese keeper Ayaka Yamashita passed the ball straight to the Matildas forward inside the box however Foord’s lashed effort flew well wide of the target in a huge let off for Japan.
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Sam Kerr of the Matildas controls the ball
Foord had another chance, this time in first half stoppage time but again the Arsenal forward dragged her shot wide of the target with the goal begging.
Japan worked themselves a brilliant chance in the 53rd minute and should have scored however Riko Ueki steered her header wide of the post despite being unmarked inside the six yard box.
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Ueki then wasted another good chance less than 90 seconds later after she was put through on goal but blasted her shot straight at Mackenzie Arnold in what would prove to be her last action on the pitch before being substituted.
Full back Kaitlyn Torpey had a half sight of goal in the 67th minute as she latched on to a cross into the box however the Newcastle United star couldn’t get a clean connection on the ball and it bounced harmlessly into the hands of Japanese keeper Yamashita.
Kaitlyn Torpey
With the Matildas now pushing hard for a late equaliser Japan were camped on the edge of their own box and survived a late scare as substitute Emily van Egmond drilled a powerful strike towards goal which was valiantly blocked by the Japanese defence.
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Accor Stadium nearly exploded in the 90th minute as Ellie Carpenter’s cross into the six yard box was headed towards goal by the arriving Alanna Kennedy however Yamashita was equal to the effort as she sprang to her right to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Arnold went forward for one last throw of the dice as the Matildas slung a corner into the box but it wasn’t to be for the Matildas as four minutes of added time passed by without Joe Montemurro’s side being able to find the all important equaliser.
The Matildas look on at the Full Time whistle
The 1-0 scoreline enough for Nils Nielsen’s Japanese side to claim their third AFC Women’s Asian Cup title in front of a devastated but defiant Accor Stadium.
There were plenty of cheers to be heard in the stadium after the full time whistle though as Matildas midfielder Kennedy was named MVP of the tournament to rapturous applause from the crowd before the Matildas were presented with their runners up medals.
