Winning Asian Cup 'the best feeling': Miyama

After getting assists for both goals in the 2-1 victory over archrivals China in the semi-final of the continental competition on Thursday, the two-time AFC Women’s Player of the Year was again involved in a set-piece that resulted in the game’s turning point.

The midfield schemer’s clever corner routine taken short to Rumi Utsugi was then converted by Azusa Iwashimizu at the back post who beat Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams with a well-directed header off the underside of the crossbar from Utsugi’s cross just three minutes shy of the half-hour mark.

And despite the Matildas throwing wave after wave of attack on the Japan goal, Miyama and her team-mates were able to ride out the storm of pressure and seal a memorable victory.

“We had won the World Cup before winning the Asian title, so as a team we really wanted to win this title. This is the best feeling I have now, after all the effort we have done in this campaign,” said the 29-year-old midfielder, who was named the tournament’s MVP.

“I chose to play that style of corner kick as we’d nearly conceded a goal earlier so I wanted to try something to different to give us a chance to score. And thankfully it was a beautiful cross from Utsugi and Iwashimizu did a great job.”

Ahead of the competition, a slew of absentees had decimated the squad due to club commitments with overseas-based regulars like Yukari Kinga, Shinobu Ohno and Asuna Tanaka unable to make the trip to Vietnam.

A despondent Miyama had then been quoted as saying the team was only at 20 percent of their capability as a result, although after seeing the outcome in Vietnam she has been forced to change her tune.

“Yeah, I guess my image of the team was 20% but I now I think we’re up to 90% of our potential but we can keep improving, of course,” she added.