Japan blasts Filipinas, 7-0, in AFC Women’s Asian Cup semifinals

Match on Thursday
(Gold Coast Stadium)
11 a.m. (Manila Time) – Uzbekistan vs Philippines

MIGHTY JAPAN overpowered Philippines in their battle for a seat to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (WAC) semifinals, 7-0, on Sunday at the Stadium Australia in Sydney, thwarting the Filipinas in their first attempt at qualifying for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC).

Toko Koga fired a brace to lead the favored Nadeshiko’s onslaught against the Pinay booters, who utilized their young guns like 21-year-old custodian Nina Meollo in preparation for the succeeding playoff match on Thursday against Uzbekistan where another WWC ticket will be on the line.

Assuming goalkeeping duties vice veteran Liv McDaniel, Ms. Meollo presided over a gritty defensive effort that enabled the Pinay booters to keep the Japanese scoreless in the first 44 minutes.

The world No. 8 side broke through just before the first half ended, with Mina Tanaka nodding in first blood and Ms. Koga heading in the first of her two goals to double their lead. That opened the floodgates for a five-goal spree in the second half that saw Remina Chiba (65^th), Manaka Matsukubo (67^th), Ms. Koga (76^th), Momoko Tanikawa (80^th) and Riko Ueki (90^th) blasting the Philippine net.

Despite missing out on WWC qualification as a WAC semifinalist, the troops of Mark Torcaso still have a second chance at advancing to the global meet through the KO duel with fellow losing quarterfinalist Uzbeks in four days’ time in Gold Coast.

“Now we quickly turn over the page, we focus on the next match and that match is going to get us to the World Cup so we’re going to regroup, stay together and focus on that,” said Ms. Meollo. — Olmin Leyba