Japan and North Korea are through to the final of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in China. Japan cruised to a 4-0 win over Australia in their semi-final while North Korea defeated hosts China 4-2 in their semi-final tie at the Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium.
Three first half goals paved the way for Japan, who controlled from start to finish as they stayed in the hunt for a fifth title.
Manager Sadayoshi Shirai made wholesale changes to his Japan side with midfielders Harura Matsushita and Runa Sumiya the only two retained from the quarter-final win against Korea Republic.
Australia’s Michael Cooper opted for three changes, with Charlotte Bradshaw, Keira Sarris and Harper Pell given starts in place of Frideriki Karaberis, Leyla Hussein and Theodora Mouithys, who played against Thailand in the last eight.
Despite fielding an almost entirely new side, Japan only needed three minutes to go in front when Bradshaw inadvertently headed into her own net when trying to clear Mashiro Yamaji’s corner delivery.
Japan doubled their advantage through a clever set-piece routine in the 24th minute, Yamaji’s low free-kick driven to the near post for Nanami Kurita to flick past a rooted Dali Gorr Burchmore.
Kurita had further chances to score, blasting Sumiya’s cutback high over the bar before seeing her shot from distance covered by Gorr Burchmore.
The Japanese forward was not to be denied a third time, ghosting in behind Bradshaw to nod home Misaya Takeda’s pinpoint cross from the left as Japan took a commanding lead into the break.
Australia were kept on the defensive after the interval with Gorr Burchmore needing to be sharp to thwart long range strikes from Rara Higuchi and Sumiya before Willa Pearson produced an amazing recovery to block a Sumiya run into the box.
There was nothing Gorr Burchmore could do in the 74th minute when Japan struck from a flowing move which saw Asuka Tanaka picking out Arisu Ota at the edge of the box to strike home to seal the impressive win.
North Korea hold off China to advance
Ri Yu Song coming in for Jo Ryong Yong was the only change Ji Yun Nam made to his North Korea starting line-up while China’s Ma Xiaoxu rang in the changes with Cai Xinlin, Cheng Wandi, Hu Cuiping, Wu Yichen and Xu Yue all fielded.
The high intensity pressing Ma looked for with those changes made it a cagey start to the game but achieved its purpose with North Korea contained as a Yu Jong Hyang header that went wide was the only chance the defending champions had in the opening 20 minutes.
The hosts’ hard work, however, was undone in the 28th minute when North Korea capitalised on a poor pass out from goalkeeper Niu Ziqi to Zhao Siqing, with Yu dispossessing the latter before firing past Niu, who got a hand to the ball but not enough to prevent it from going in.
North Korea doubled their advantage five minutes later when Ri Kyong Im exchanged passes with Ri Ui Gyong before blasting a rising shot into the top corner.
China pushed hard in the closing minutes of the first half as Liu Yuxi’s near-post flick went just wide before a lob – with Kim Son Gyong out of position – not finding the target.
China’s positive play did get its reward with Liu planting the ball in the back of the net in the 43rd minute from Wu’s cross as the North Korea defence was breached for the first time in the competition.
The game opened up in the second period with early sighters for North Korea as Ri Ye Rim forced Niu into making a good save before the China custodian rushed out from her goal line to pressure Kim Won Sim into putting her effort wide.
China fought back and from a counter attack in the 50th minute, they drew level when Zhao slipped Liu into acres of space, with the latter calmly dinking the ball over the advancing Son Gyong to send the home crowd into raptures.
It was parity that didn’t last too long as the goal galvanised North Korea into action and they regained their lead in the 65th minute thanks to a surging run of Ye Rim, who bested Xu Yue before driving into the box and finding Yu for her ninth goal of the campaign.
The irrepressible Yu made sure of the win in the 75th minute, rising highest to thump Won Sol Gyong’s cross onto the underside of the bar before it landed over the goal line to send North Korea through to their ninth successive final.
