Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Edmonton: Japan coach Norio Sasaki said he was confident Japan would find a winner without the need for a penalty shootout as the reigning World and Asian champions defeated Australia 1-0 courtesy of substitute Mana Iwabuchi’s goal with three minutes of regulation time in quarter-final clash remaining.
Japan dominated Saturday’s all-Asian encounter, which brought together the two 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup finalists, but had to wait until the 87th minute to break the deadlock, with two-time AFC Women’s Youth Player of the Year Iwabuchi bundling the ball home from close range 15 minutes after coming on as a replacement for Shinobu Ohno.
On in the 72nd minute to replace Ohno, Bayern Munich striker Iwabuchi fired home from close range after the Matildas had failed to deal with corner kick, which had been won after keeper Lydia Williams had kept out a shot from Azusa Iwashimizu, who scored the winning goal when the two sides contested last year’s continental final in Vietnam.
“Even if we didn’t get a goal within 90 minutes, I felt we would get it inside 120 minutes,” said Sasaki, recipient of the FIFA World Coach of the Year in AFC Coach of the Year awards in 2011 after leading Japan to glory in that year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Long-time coach Sasaki, who was also the architect of Japan’s maiden continental victory, continued by saying that he got his strategy at the Commonwealth Stadium spot on and that the victory over the Matildas has built up their confidence going into their semi-final showdown with England.
“The game-plan was executed very well. We recognise the growth of Australia in this World Cup and my team will take confidence from this and we can build with future success (at the tournament).
“Also the solutions we came up for this match worked very well, and this also gives us confidence. We will fight hard in the semi-final being mindful of the people supporting us back in Japan.”
While the Matildas’ make the long trip back to Australia after their campaign ended at the quarter-final stage for the third successive FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament, Japan will remain in Edmonton to continue the defence of their crown on July 1 with a final four meeting against England, who advanced to the semis with a 2-1 win over hosts Canada.
Photo: FIFA/Getty Images