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| AFC Women’s Asian Cup |
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| Sasaki's side rise to the occasion |
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| Japan coach Norio Sasaki set a five-goal winning target which his side eclipsed with an 11-0 thrashing of Chinese Taipei. |
HO CHI MINH CITY - Japan coach Norio Sasaki expressed his satisfaction after his side eclipsed their pre-match target of a minimum five-goal win with an 11-0 thumping of Chinese Taipei at Thong Nat Stadium on Saturday.
Having lost their opening Group B game 3-1 to Korea Republic, Japan bounced back in emphatic fashion as Michi Goto and Rumi Utsugi both scored twice in the rout to keep alive the EAFF champions’ hopes hopes of making the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Sasaki was extremely pleased with the eventual outcome, particularly as his side only held a two-goal lead at the break.
"Our target before the game was to get three points and score at least five goals," he said.
"Chinese Taipei had a tough defence and our players had a little bit of trouble at first but broke them down and went on to play very well."
Despite the one-sided scoreline, Sasaki had plenty of encouragement for Chinese Taipei, adding he was particularly impressed with goalkeeper Tsai Ming-jung, midfielder Tseng Shu-o and striker Tan Wen-lin.
"If they could play 90 minutes with the same intensity as they did at the start, they would hurt us a lot more," he said.
"The goalkeeper, if she was Japanese, I would call her to the national team.
Numbers nine (Tan) and 10 (Tseng) are also really good players.
"In the last few years, Chinese Taipei have really improved.
"They're trying to bring in more athletic players, more physical and quicker players. They're improving their technical ability and co-ordination and they just need to keep on going."
Chinese Taipei coach Chen Shu-chin admitted they simply ran out of steam as the second-half wore on after keeping their more illustrious opponents relatively quiet during the opening 45 minutes.
"I think our players did very well during the first half but in the second half, I think the players became more tired and could not compete with Japan.
"Japan kept the tempo of the game fast and that's why we could not match them but I think my players did their best.
"But due to tiredness our players could not concentrate so well."
But Chen also underlined the game still proved a valuable learning experience for Chinese Taipei.
"We used many young players," Chen added.
"Some are only 15 or 16 years old but this is what we have to do because we need more young players to obtain experience for the future."
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