2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup final

The 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup Final was a football match at the Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan which determined the winner of the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. The final was contested between Japan and Australia, teams which were also the finalists of the previous edition held in 2014.

2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup Final
The venue of the final
Event2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup
Date20 April 2018
VenueAmman International Stadium, Amman
RefereeRi Hyang-ok (North Korea)
Attendance3,065
2014
2022

Japan defeated Australia 1–0 in the final to win their second consecutive title.[1]

Background

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Japan were the defending champions of the AFC Women's Asian Cup having defeated Australia in the final of the 2014 edition in Vietnam to win their first continental title.[2] The two sides had met in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Their encounter ended in a 1–1 draw.[3]

The match also marked Australia's third consecutive appearance in a Women's Asian Cup final.[4] This feat was last achieved by China which featured in the final of the 2003, 2006, and 2008 editions.

Australia's previous victory against Japan in a major tournament was their match up at the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam, where it knockout their East Asian opposition out of the semifinals and win the title. Australia has been beaten by Japan since then including their quarter final loss in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[5]

Route to the final

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Australia and Japan were both part of Group B in the group stage. Australia finished as group leaders and had to face second-placers Thailand in the semifinal while Japan had to play against China, the Group A leaders. The semifinalists of the tournament including Australia and Japan secured a berth at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup by finishing among the top two teams in their group.

Australia was trailing 1–2 to Thailand in their semifinal tie before Australia made an equalizer just before the end of the regulation time. This meant that the match had to go to extra time but no further goals were made and penalty shoot-out was held to determine which among the two teams to advance to the final. Australia outscored Thailand in the penalties.[6] Japan won over China in the other semifinal with the sole Chinese goal being scored from a penalty kick in the 90th minute. [7]

Japan Round Australia
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
  Vietnam 4–0 Match 1   South Korea 0–0
  South Korea 0–0 Match 2   Vietnam 8–0
  Australia 1–1 Match 3   Japan 1–1
Group B runner-up
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Australia 3 1 2 0 9 1 +8 5
  Japan 3 1 2 0 5 1 +4 5
  South Korea 3 1 2 0 4 0 +4 5
  Vietnam 3 0 0 3 0 16 −16 0
Source: [citation needed]
Final standings
Group B winner
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Australia 3 1 2 0 9 1 +8 5
  Japan 3 1 2 0 5 1 +4 5
  South Korea 3 1 2 0 4 0 +4 5
  Vietnam 3 0 0 3 0 16 −16 0
Source: [citation needed]
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
  China 3–1 Semi-finals   Thailand 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)

Match

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Australian winger Hayley Raso, right knee injury, was ruled out of the final.

In the first half, Australia had a chance to score when they were awarded a penalty after Saki Kumagai handled Tameka Butt’s shot at goal in the 14th minute, but Ayaka Yamashita saved the penalty from Elise Kellond-Knight.

In the 84th minute, substitute Kumi Yokoyama received the ball from Yui Hasegawa and shot the ball into the top corner of the net from 18 yards scoring the winning goal.

Details

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Japan  1–0  Australia
  • Yokoyama   84'
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australia
GK 18 Ayaka Yamashita
RB 22 Risa Shimizu
CB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)   14'
CB 5 Nana Ichise
LB 3 Aya Sameshima
RM 7 Emi Nakajima
CM 10 Mizuho Sakaguchi
CM 2 Rumi Utsugi
LM 14 Yui Hasegawa
CF 13 Yuika Sugasawa   72'
CF 8 Mana Iwabuchi
Substitutes:
GK 1 Sakiko Ikeda
GK 21 Chika Hirao
DF 6 Saori Ariyoshi
DF 17 Hikari Takagi
DF 23 Shiori Miyake
MF 12 Hikaru Naomoto
MF 15 Moeno Sakaguchi
MF 16 Rin Sumida
MF 19 Rika Masuya
FW 9 Nahomi Kawasumi
FW 11 Mina Tanaka
FW 20 Kumi Yokoyama   72'
Manager:
Asako Takakura
GK 1 Lydia Williams
RB 21 Ellie Carpenter
CB 4 Clare Polkinghorne
CB 14 Alanna Kennedy
LB 7 Stephanie Catley (c)
RM 6 Chloe Logarzo
CM 13 Tameka Butt
CM 8 Elise Kellond-Knight   80'
LM 10 Emily van Egmond
CF 20 Samantha Kerr
CF 11 Lisa De Vanna   60'
Substitutes:
GK 12 Casey Dumont
GK 18 Mackenzie Arnold
DF 2 Caitlin Cooper
DF 5 Laura Alleway
MF 3 Aivi Luik
MF 9 Alex Chidiac
MF 19 Katrina Gorry
FW 15 Emily Gielnik
FW 17 Kyah Simon   60'
FW 22 Larissa Crummer
FW 23 Michelle Heyman
Manager:
Alen Stajcic

Aftermath

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Japan won their second AFC Women's Asian Cup title. Japan's win also marks the first time a national team won the continental title two times consecutively, a feat last done North Korea who emerged champions of the 2001 and 2003 editions. It was also the first title won by Japan women's team under the tutelage of manager, Asako Takakura and the third major title within the last seven years.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Yokoyama the hero as Japan emerge champions". the-afc.com. 20 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Soccer: Japan reach final of Women's Asian Cup". Mainichi Japan. Kyodo. 18 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Takakura wants more from Japan". Asian Football Confederation. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Japan v Australia: The Road to the Final". Asian Football Confederation. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. ^ Migliaccio, Val (21 April 2018). "Matildas lose: Japan breaks Australia's hearts in AFC Asian Cup". Adelaide Now. News Corp Australia Network. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  6. ^ Mackay, Ben (18 April 2018). "Matildas defeat Thailand on penalties to reach women's Asian Cup final". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Australia, Japan reach final of 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup". Xinhua. 18 April 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  8. ^ Yamei (20 April 2018). "Japan wins champion of 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup". Xinhua Net. Xinhua. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.