AFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2015 Semi-Finals  vs  U-19 Korea Republic
2015-8-26 (Wed.) - 16:30   Playing Time: 45min×2
Jiangning Sports Centre Stadium (Nanjing, China)

U-19 Japan Women's National Team   1-0 (0-0, 1-0)   U-19 Korea Republic

Scores
82'   KOBAYASHI Rikako (U-19 Japan Women's National Team)

Line-ups
GK: HIRAO Chika
DF: SHIMIZU Risa, KITAGAWA Hikaru, ICHISE Nana, NORIMATSU Ruka
MF: SUMIDA Rin, SUGITA Hina, HASEGAWA Yui, NISHIDA Meika
FW: KOBAYASHI Rikako, MOMIKI Yuka

Substitutes
GK: MATSUMOTO Mamiko, MORITA Yukari
DF: TAKEMURA Misaki, HAZA Hisui, MATSUBARA Shiho, MIYAGAWA Asato
MF: MIURA Narumi, MIZUTANI Yuki, ANZAI Yuka, SONODA Mizuki
FW: SEIKE Kiko, SHIRAKI Akari

79'   HASEGAWA Yui → SEIKE Kiko

Match Report

U-19 Japan Women's National Team edged Korea Republic 1-0 in the semifinals of the AFC U-19 Women's Championship 2015 on 26 August and clinched their fifth berth, first in the last two tournaments, in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Japan entered the contest with the same starting lineup as in their Chinese game. Japan connected passes quickly and created many scoring chances, including from their set plays like corner kicks and free kicks. But they were unable to capitalize on them for a goal.

On 18th minute, forward MOMIKI Yuka fired a free kick with her left leg, but the shot slightly went above the goal bar. Japan built up from both sides, and defender KITAGAWA Hikaru overlapped and launched a shot, but the defending champion Korea Republic managed to halt those attacks with their tenacious defence. The game entered halftime with a 0-0 sore.

Japan coach TAKAKURA Asako told her players during halftime, “Don't be rattled first. It'll be an endurance race with Korea Republic, so let's play patiently.” The game progressed in the second half as Japan grabbed the momentum. Japan had a shooting chance from an interception of defender ICHISE Nana, a pass of midfielder SUGITA Hina and midfielder NISHIDA Meika dribbled and fired a shot in the end for Japan.

Japan finally got on the scoreboard when forward KOBAYASHI Rikako, who received a pass from Nishida who was in the left side, took a shot with her right leg. Kobayashi's shot hit the right goal post, but went into the goal to give Japan a 1-0 lead.

After that, Korea Republic came more offensively substituting some of their players. But Japan kept their concentration even in  three minutes of the extra minutes and avenged Korea Republic, who had beaten Japan in the previous tournament, Japan earned a spot in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which will be played in October of next year.

Japan will face DPR Korea Republic on the 29th in the final with the championship at stake.

Coach and Players' Comments

TAKAKURA Asako, Coach
We expected it would be a tough game and knew the game would be won in the second half. While we struggled to score a goal, we kept playing our own possession football and kept aiming to take shots in front of their goal, and it resulted in our goal in the end. Our players played well in the whole 90 minutes, and Korea Republic showed a great fighting spirit.

I think that it was a close, well-played contest. Based on our reflection from our Chinese game, we particularly focused on our play after the goal today. Our players played with composure. They accumulated another experience and grew a step further as a team today.

NORIMATSU Ruka (Urawa Reds Ladies)
We didn't play our football against China, so we came in the game trying to connect the ball for the 90 minutes. As we weren't able to score a goal, we didn't get rattled and kept playing with the distances between our men. As a result of our effort to keep connecting passes even toward the end, we wound up taking the victory.

I'd prepared thinking of the Korea Republic game as it appeared even in my dream, but our players and staff talked to me and I was as excited as I could get for the game. It just feels great to have grabbed a ticket for the U-20 Women's World Cup with a win against the opponents whom we had lost to two years ago. We still have a long way to get better, so we would like to improve our issues by watching films, and go back to Japan winning the final, too.

KOBAYASHI Rikako (Tokiwagi Gakuen High School)
Korea Republic made blocks against us, but we thought we'd dominate the game. We didn't play in a bad way from the first half, and we just kept playing only needing to score. (On the game-winning goal) I hesitated for a second whether I should shoot it directly or not, but I decided to control it first and shot it right after.

I didn't hit it perfectly, but it's great that it went in. For the final, if we won't play in their rhythm and keep playing Japan's own football, we will win the championship, so we want do our best.

MOMIKI Yuka (Nippon TV Beleza)
I came in the game trying to exhibit everything I've done in it. All of us had the same mind-set and it led to the result of the game. Against the opponents who played passively making blocks, we could rotate passes, but struggled scoring. Also, we could attack from the side, having analyzed on Korea Republic, but we still struggled in front of their goal.

We would like to keep the mind-set for the final, and actively go for attacking, showcasing everything we've got. We want to show our heart that we want to win the championships with our plays.

Schedule

※Local Time
Note: The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.