Japan cruised into the last four stage of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand by overpowering Vietnam 4-0 in their quarter-final tie at the Pathum Thani Stadium.
The six-time champions, who also booked their place at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026, set up a semi-final meeting with either China or Uzbekistan.
Vietnam did well to prevent Japan from properly executing their build-ups in the opening minutes as Vietnam keeper Le Thi Thu easily handled tentative attempts from Natsumi Tago and Mao Itamura and a full-blooded strike from distance by Rinka Higuchi.
Mone Sato came close to the opening goal in the ninth minute when she connected with Nao Fukushima’s set-piece, the defender striking the right post with her first-time shot from outside the six-yard box.
As Japan intensified their attacks, Le came off her line to push away an unmarked Itamura’s header in the 16th minute, but the keeper conceded to her two minutes later when the midfielder picked up the loose ball in a crowded goalmouth and slammed it into the back of the net.
Vietnam’s defensive line prevented the East Asian side from pulling further ahead, with Yura Honda and Fukushima resorting to long-range efforts while both Yuna Aoki and Sato’s headers were let down by poor placement.
Japan were not to be denied, however, and Tago doubled their advantage a minute into added time when she picked up a pass from Higuchi, spun on her marker and fired into the bottom left corner past a rooted Le.
Fukushima secured the third a minute later, coming from behind the defence to latch on to Hibari Hara’s cross and heading past the lunging Vietnam custodian from the centre of the area.
Japan kept the Southeast Asian side back-pedalling from the start of the second half as Le smothered substitute Miki Kimura’s blistering drive from the left and then pushed away Tago’s low strike from a similar position.
The keeper was at a loss in the 61st minute, however, when Itamura secured her second goal by letting loose a beautifully-struck shot from 25 yards that crashed into the top left corner.
Akira Ijiri’s side continued to pile on the pressure until the closing whistle, but some good work from Le, who made saves from Konoha Nakamura and Honda, denied them a fifth goal.
