{"id":10794,"date":"2026-03-21T18:35:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T11:35:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=10794"},"modified":"2026-03-21T18:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T11:35:34","slug":"maika-hamanos-goals-sees-japan-winning-asian-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/maika-hamanos-goals-sees-japan-winning-asian-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Maika Hamano’s goals sees Japan winning Asian Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a0A spectacular Maika Hamano strike sent Japan into seventh heaven as they defeated Australia 1-0 to win the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The midfielder\u2019s first half goal proved to be the decider in front of a record breaking crowd of 74,397 at an AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup match as the Nadeshiko were crowned Asian champions for the third time, following triumphs in 2014 and 2018 – also at Australia\u2019s expense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia fashioned the first opportunity after only two minutes when Mary Fowler latched onto a raking pass from the back and found Caitlin Foord in the box, who teed up Sam Kerr for the strike that was tipped away by Ayaka Yamashita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Japanese custodian was called into action again in the 11th minute after Fowler outmuscled Toko Koga and sent Foord racing clear into the box but the Arsenal forward hit her effort straight at Yamashita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of nowhere, Japan found the opening goal through their number 17 in the 17th minute,  Maika Hamano was left with space to turn from outside the box and unleashed a swerving shot that curled away from a diving Mackenzie Arnold and settled in the bottom corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan then seized control with their usual passing game but were almost caught being too casual at the back when Yamashita\u2019s underhit clearance went straight to Foord, who saw her shot deflected off the covering Hana Takahashi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick break in the 43rd minute presented Japan a chance to take a bigger lead into the break when Kyra Cooney-Cross misheaded Hamano\u2019s cross to Hikaru Kitagawa but Arnold was alert to save the low strike from the left-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia could have gone into the break level when Kerr found Foord in the box, only for the latter to drag her attempt wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With five minutes left of regulation time, Japan put their bodies on the line to block efforts from Emily Van Egmond and Foord, with Yamashita then producing a fantastic save to stop Foord\u2019s header as they regained the title and banished the memories of their semi-final exit in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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