Japan’s women’s soccer team won the title in a penalty shootout after facing North Korea for 120 minutes. A late equalizer in the second half, when Japan was trailing by one goal, sent the match to extra time and a penalty shootout. Along with Japan’s third straight title, this final showcased changes in the way the match was managed.
3-Line Summary
1. Japan defeated North Korea to win its third straight title
2. The final ended 2-2, followed by a 5-3 penalty shootout
3. The equalizer in the 41st minute of the second half was the turning point
120 Minutes at Ecopa Stadium
In the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games women’s soccer final held at Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka Prefecture on October 2, Japan drew 2-2 with North Korea before winning 5-3 in a penalty shootout. Japan’s women’s national team, Nadeshiko Japan, achieved its third straight title in the competition with this victory.
The match did not unfold with Japan taking an easy lead. In the 41st minute of the second half, with Japan trailing 1-2, substitute forward Hannon Nishio scored the equalizer with a right-footed shot. The final continued into extra time, and Japan secured the championship in the penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Japan goalkeeper Akeha Oba saved the shot from North Korea’s third taker. The 2-2 result alone suggested a closely contested match, but the late equalizer and the save in the shootout were the moments that decided the title.
In-Match Coordination Led by the Defensive Coach
Japan national team manager Norihisa Kano mentioned coach Atsuto Uchida’s role at the post-match press conference. Uchida’s appointment as a coach for the women’s national team was announced in May, and he was reportedly primarily responsible for the defensive area of the team.
The manager explained that Uchida matched his analysis of the key aspects of attack and defense from the bench with the analysis staff and exchanged opinions depending on substitutions and match situations. Japan advanced from its first group-stage match through the semifinals without conceding a goal. Although it conceded two goals in the final, the defensive organization maintained throughout the tournament was one of the foundations of the title.
Uchida made 74 appearances for Japan and has experience playing for clubs including Schalke of Germany. Manager Kano assessed that before the match and at halftime, Uchida spoke individually with the players about match preparation and their mindset, which helped them play boldly. This is the manager’s assessment after the match.
The Tactical Range Left by a Domestic-Player-Centered Title
Nanami Otake, a former forward for Japan’s women’s national team, highly praised the achievement of winning this title with a squad centered on players from the domestic league. She pointed to goalkeeper Oba’s composure, as well as Japan’s use of long passes that bypassed the midfield in addition to its established passing soccer, which connects players and the ball.
Otake’s assessment is an interpretation that Japan’s tactical options broadened during this tournament. What was confirmed in the final was that Japan, after equalizing late in the second half against North Korea and holding firm in the penalty shootout, completed its third consecutive championship.
References
Tags #AsianGames #Women’sSoccer #NorthKoreanWomen’sSoccer #JapanWomen’sSoccer #NadeshikoJapan #JapanNorthKoreaSoccer #Women’sSoccerFinal #PenaltyShootout #EcopaStadium #AsianGamesWomen’sSoccer #JapanWomen’sNationalTeam #NorthKoreaNationalTeam