A revamped Japan was still too strong as they cruised to the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup Group C top spot with an impressive 4-0 win against Vietnam at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-time winners finished with nine points and will meet the Philippines next while defeat meant Vietnam missed out on a place in the quarter-finals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Taipei advanced to the quarter-finals of the after defeating India 3-1 in their Group C match at the Western Sydney Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The victory means the East Asians finish in second place behind Japan and will face defending champions China in their last eight tie on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only Yui Hasegawa and Saki Kumagai retained their places in the Japan lineup that started in the 11-0 win against India, while Vietnam made four changes with Khong Thi Hang in goal and Huynh Nhu and Pham Hai Yen on the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Riko Ueki almost put Japan ahead within seconds of the opening whistle when Maika Hamano spotted her run down the centre with a cross, only for the West Ham United forward to flash her attempt just wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was then Hasegawa\u2019s chance to cause problems but she sliced her volley wide from distance in the fifth minute before seeing her effort from inside the box closed down by the Vietnam defence moments later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vietnam stayed compact with their five-strong defence but showed they could be dangerous on the counter-attack when Ngan Thi Van Su tested Ayaka Yamashita with an effort from outside the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Japan\u2019s persistent prodding finally led to the opener in the 21st minute after Ueki met Hasegawa\u2019s cross, sending the ball with a powerful looping header into the top right corner of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Japan continued to press, Thi Hang kept Vietnam in the game – first pulling off a brilliant save to stop Aoba Fujino\u2019s volley from close range at the half-hour mark, then denying Ueki\u2019s powerful header nine minutes later before keeping out the forward\u2019s lob at the far post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Japan maintained their intensity after the break, needing only six minutes to double their lead when Momoko Tanikawa laid a perfect pass for substitute Maika Hamano, who nutmegged Tran Thi Thu Thao to send the ball into the back of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vietnam fell further behind in the 64th minute from another well-worked build-up when Tanikawa picked out Fujino, who steered past her marker before finding the bottom right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Substitutes Hinata Miyazawa and Kiko Seike then combined brilliantly three minutes later with the latter drilling her shot into the net to seal the empathic victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, India began brightly, earning their first corner inside the opening minute in their match against Chinese Taipei. Taken by Manisha Kalyan, the delivery caused a scramble in the goalmouth and struck the post before being quickly gathered by Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Wang Yu-Ting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Taipei threatened almost immediately in response, with Chen Jin-Wen collecting Wu Kai-Ching\u2019s through ball two minutes later, but her attempt drifted narrowly wide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blue Tigresses continued to search for an early breakthrough, with Kalyan bursting through the centre before setting up Soumya Guguloth, whose right-footed effort sailed just wide of the right post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Taipei also remained dangerous going forward, with Chen Yu-Jin forcing India goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu into action with a strike from the left that had to be punched clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three-time champions were rewarded for their persistence soon after when Su Yu-Hsuan capitalised on a defensive lapse. Sanju\u2019s mistimed attempt to clear left Panthoi stranded and the goal unattended, allowing Su to slot the ball home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the momentum on their side, Chinese Taipei pushed for a second and came close just past the half-hour mark when Chen Ying-Hui\u2019s overhead cross found Kai-Ching, but the defender\u2019s effort sailed wide despite beating several red shirts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
India, however, found a moment of inspiration in the 39th minute when Kalyan unleashed a superb left-footed strike from a well-placed free-kick, which, after a VAR review, was confirmed to have crossed the goal line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Taipei regained the lead seconds before the break after Pyari Xaxa was penalised for a handball. Hsu Yi-Yun stepped up to take the penalty and saw her effort strike the post before ricocheting off the outstretched Panthoi and rolling into the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prasobchoke Chokemor-led squad returned from the break with the same resolve and almost extended their lead in the 48th minute when Jin-Wen\u2019s curling delivery found Huang Ke-Sin in a dangerous position inside the six-yard box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her close-range effort was first blocked by Indian skipper Sweety Devi and, after the rebound fell kindly back to her, goalkeeper Panthoi reacted quickly to clear the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Taipei threatened again in the 53rd minute when Yi-Yun\u2019s short pass released Jin-Wen, but her attempt was eventually cleared by the collective efforts of the Indian backline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With just over an hour played, Yu-Hsuan thought she had scored her second of the night when she fired in from the centre of the box, but the effort was ruled out for offside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jin-Wen once again troubled the Indian defence when Yi-Yun\u2019s long pass found the forward, whose right-footed shot drifted narrowly past the right post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For much of the remaining minutes, play was confined to the Indian half as Chinese Taipei launched wave after wave of attacks, keeping the Indian defence constantly on alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their perseverance finally paid off in the 77th minute when Kai-Ching spotted a gap in the Indian backline and slipped the ball through for Yu-Chin, who finished into an unattended goalmouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pyari Xaxa had a chance to narrow the gap in the closing moments but saw her header from the centre of the box denied by the woodwork, as India\u2019s campaign came to an end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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