Japan win Asiad women’s football title

Agency :
Japan beat DPR Korea 4-1 to claim the women’s football gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday.

Japan had defeated China 4-3 while DPR Korea had thrashed Uzbekistan 8-0 to reach the final.

The two teams were tied at 1-1 in the first half before the defending champions scored three goals in just seven second-half minutes to kill the match.

The defending champions enjoyed a dream start in the 10th minute as Yuzuki Yamamoto’s perfect through pass found Yoshino Nakashima, who lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Kim Kyong-yong sent Wi Jong-sim’s cross home in the 39th minute to equalize for DPR Korea.

The second half saw DPR Korea push hard at the beginning, but Japan seized the chance to counter-attack.

Haruka Osawa headed Momoko Tanikawa’s corner home in the 66th minute to regain the lead for Japan.

Tanikawa curled a long-distance shot to double Japan’s advantage three minutes later, before Remina Chiba fired home from a tight angle in the 72nd minute to clinch the victory for Japan.

In the third-place match, Chen Qiaozhu scored twice as China eased past Uzbekistan 7-0 to take the bronze medal.

Only 20 seconds after kick-off, Zhang Xin’s left-wing cross found Ou Yiyao, who headed home to gift the host nation a dream start.