Japan Finish Undefeated Afer 1-0 Win over Australia

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Japan completed a perfect AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2011 campaign with a 1-0 win over Australia on Sunday as Yuka Momiki’s first-half effort ensured the champions made it five wins out of five at the Jiangning Sports Center.

Japan had sealed the title with victory over Korea Republic on Thursday and after shutting out Australia they also ended the tournament without conceding a single goa.

Australia got off the mark with win over Thailand last time out, but were no match for even a much-changed Japan team and, as was the case earlier in the tournament, had Eliza Campbell to thank for a series of fine saves.

Japan’s title win has cemented the country’s status as the cream of the crop in women’s football. This year the senior team won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, while they also hold the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2011 crown.

And victory in the final match here was the icing on the cake for Hiroshi Yoshida’s impressive side.

Campbell, who was superb in her side’s last-gasp 1-0 defeat to DPR Korea, soon had to show her agility again.

Shiori Miyake cut inside from the right and as the defence backed off let fly with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area which Campbell clawed away.

Campbell then saved a weak low effort from Yuka Toriumi with Japan clearly in no mood to see their winning streak come to an end.

And they took the lead in the 17th minute with Toriumi getting to the byline down the right and crossing for Momiki to score with a diving header into the corner.

Japan were now finding acres of space in the middle of the pitch and milking it for all it was worth as they continually threatened to get behind the Australia defence.

Only poor control or picking the wrong pass prevented them from increasing their lead.

Olivia Price headed Mika Hirata’s corner off the line as it looked set to creep under the bar, while Momiki brought another save out of Campbell, who turned her 18-yard effort on to the post and wide.
The game was turning into an individual battle between Momiki and Campbell asthe Japanese player bringing another sprawling save out of the keeper.

Campbell brilliantly tipped over a powerful shot from Toriumi at the start of the second half as Japan instantly looked for more goals.

Sasaki fired straight into the arms of the overworked keeper, who then rushed off her line to block the same player’s shot with her chest.

Breanna Sampson should have levelled when she was played in down the right of the area but could only slice her shot badly wide of the near post before substitute Yui Narumiya went close from an almost impossible angle at the other end, but one proved enough as Japan rounded off a victorious campaign with another win.