Japan make it two straight with a close final victory over gallant Australia in Amman
>> AMMAN: Japan won back-to-back Women’s Asian Cup trophies on Friday night with a 1-0 victory over Australia in the final.
Substitute Kumi Yokoyama scored the 84th-minute winner at Jordan’s Amman International Stadium in a replay of the 2014 final, when the Nadeshiko edged the Matildas 1-0.
Japan were made to defend for the majority of the match as Australia took 22 shots to Nadeshiko’s five. Japan, however, converted one of their few chances after Yokoyama was introduced in the 72nd minute.
The forward received the ball from Yui Hasegawa and dribbled between two opponents before driving it into the top corner of the net from about 17 metres.
“I knew before I got [the pass] that it was coming. But I’m surprised myself,” said Yokoyama, who scored four goals at the tournament.
Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita had a stellar performance, saving a penalty and denying multiple closerange attempts by the Matildas.
She stopped shots by Sam Kerr and Lisa De Vanna right before saving Elise Kellond-Knight’s attempt from the spot.
The victory gave head coach Asako Takakura her first major international trophy since taking the job in April 2014.
“It was a very close match,” Takakura said. “We struggled for a while in the match, but I want to congratulate the girls for winning by playing with persistence.”
She added: “When I was a player, I was focused on myself to become the best player, but now as a coach I’m trying to help the players to develop and also trying to develop women’s football in Japan.
“In this tournament we played in the Japanese way and won the title, and that gives us confidence, but I can go further and I must go further, so let’s see what happens.
“We knew since the beginning that the match tonight would be the difficult one, and I believe it was a match worth watching and one of the best matches that Asia can show at this moment.
“I’m very proud to have such a great match against one of the best countries in Asia and in the world — Australia.”
Nadeshiko striker Mana Iwabuchi was named the tournament’s most valuable player after scoring two goals.