Rara Higuchi led with a hat-trick as Japan got their Group B campaign off to a flying start with a 13-0 win over Lebanon at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.
In another match, Baek Seo-yeong starred with four goals as Korea defeated Philippines 5-0 in their opening Group C.
Japan run riot
Japan’s fast start paved the way for the opener in the third minute when Higuchi recovered her own rebound after rattling the post from inside the box to lay a backheel pass for Maho Kubota to strike home from close range.
Lebanese goalkeeper Marie Joe Chebly then pulled off a string of saves, only for Gia Frangieh to inadvertently put the ball past the custodian in trying to make a headed clearance in the 25th minute.
Chebly came under pressure again two minutes later when she foiled Runa Sumiya’s attempt before spilling Mino Tamamura’s effort into the path of Higuchi, who struck home from close range, with Runa Sumiya finding the net just seconds later with a thumping finish.
Japan’s fluidity was Lebanon’s bane as Higuchi extended their advantage in the 34th minute after turning home Sumiya’s cross from close range before Yuzuha Ikeda found the net three minutes later on the follow-up after Chebly parried Kubota’s effort.
Anri Ito then made it 7-0 for Japan with a curling effort from inside the box as Lebanon went into the break with a mountain to climb.
Japan maintained their relentless approach after the break with Mei Hanashiro scoring through curling efforts in the 52nd and 60th minutes.
The four-time winners will next face India on Tuesday while Lebanon will hope for a rebound against Australia.
Philippines face Korean wrath
Korea established control early on with the opener coming after six minutes when Park Na-young’s raking ball from defence found Jang Ye-jin with keeper Leah Bradley blocking the initial attempt but Seo-yeong sidefooted home the rebound.
Seo-yeong provided the finishing touch again in the 14th minute after Bradley’s punch from Han Guk-hee’s free-kick fell straight at her feet, the midfielder calmly finding the bottom corner.
Forced to defend deep for most of the first half, Philippines did have one rare foray forward which saw Khloe Rivera’s cross-cum-shot from the right fielded by alert Korea Republic custodian Lee Seung-a.
Seo-yeong, however, was on fire and completed her hat-trick in the 34th minute with a wonderful strike into the top corner after the Philippines failed to deal with Lim Ji-hye’s cross from the right.
Philippines regrouped after the break to defend with more discipline but were only successful till the 55th minute, with Kim Min-seo releasing Lim into the box whose shot crashed against the post with the rebound smashed home by the impressive Seo-yeong.
A jinking run from Min-seo in the 67th minute set up Ji-hye for a shot that was parried by Bradley straight into the path of Kim Hee-na, who slotted home from an acute angle.
There was an opportunity for Philippines to get a late consolation when centre-back Jeon Ah-hyun underhit her back pass to goalkeeper Lee but Louraine Evangelista dragged her shot wide as Korea Republic got off to a five-star start.
Korea will next take on Chinese Taipei on Tuesday while Philippines face defending champions North Korea.
