Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ashgabat: Japan began their defence of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games women's futsal title on an emphatic note as they beat China PR 5-2 in the opening Group A clash on Saturday.
Islamic Republic of Iran, seen as the greatest threat to Japan, were equally impressive as they beat Palestine in their opening Group B tie.
Japan are seeking a fourth consecutive women's futsal gold medal and they showed they mean business when Miku Sakurada gave them the lead as early as the first minute.
In fact, such was the Japan dominance that China PR's first attempt, which missed the target, only came in the fourth minute.
That was followed by a period of equal domination as both sides went in search of goal but it was Japan who widened their lead as Mio Fujita scored their second in the 12th minute.
China PR, to their credit, hit back almost immediately as Dong Jiabao kept them in the game by finding the back of the net in the 13th minute.
The one goal deficit, however, was to last just seconds as Japan scored their third from the restart with Fujita hitting her second.
Akari Takao made it 4-1 in the 16th and Japan were in cruise control.
Fan Yuqiu pulled one back for China PR three minutes into the restart but Japan would have the final say as Eriko Hotta made it 5-2 for the reigning champions in the 24th minute.
Japan's Sakurada, who scored the first goal with just 53 seconds on the clock said: "It was a good timing for the goal. From that goal we could manage the rest of the match.
"But it was a team effort. It was a goal for the team not for me."
She was not happy with the two goals Japan conceded though.
"We need to improve more. There is plenty to correct," said Sakurada.
In the other Group A tie, there was no opening match cheer for hosts Turkmenistan as Hong Kong raced to a 6-1 win.
Chan Wing Sze starred for Hong Kong with a hat-trick (4th, 18th, 19th) while Wong Shuk Fan scored two (26th, 29th). Wong So Han (12th was the other Hong Kong scorer while Ejes Amanmuhammedowa hit a consolation for Turkmenistan in the 22nd minute.
In Group B action, IR Iran showed they are genuine contenders for the gold medal after scoring a resounding 16-1 win over Palestine in their opening match.
IR Iran, who beat Japan 1-0 to clinch the inaugural AFC Women's Futsal Championship title in 2015, took an 8-0 lead as four players went on to hit hat-tricks.
Sohila Malmoulitarazi got the ball rolling with IR Iran's first in the fifth minute before completing her hat-trick in the 19th and 38th minutes.
Joining the hat-trick party were Pereshteh Karimi (11th, 27th, 29th), Sara Shirbeigi (7th,11th, 25th) and Nasimeh Sadat Gholami (17th, 21st, 37th).
IR Iran's other goals were scored by Fatemeh Papi (15th), Fereshteh Khosravi (10th), Fahimeh Zarei (34th) and Fatemeh Etedadi (35th).
IR Iran coach Shahrzad Mozafar was pleased with the huge win.
"We needed a good goal difference from this match because tomorrow Thailand play Palestine. So we needed to score as many goals as we could to secure first place in our group. We'd prefer to be first, that's why.
"I believe that not only Japan, but also Thailand have a strong team too.
"I think Japan, Thailand and Iran can be champions of this tournament. So we are thinking not just about Japan, but Thailand have the same chances."
Results - Women's Group A: Japan 5-2 China PR, Turkmenistan 1-6 Hong Kong; Group B: Iran 16-1 Palestine.
Sources: ashgabat2017.com, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran