YANGON (22 Sept 2013) – Miho Harada was the toast for Japan Selection when her single penalty save gave them a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Australian Under-19 team in the final of the AFF Aya Bank Women’s Championship this evening at the Youth Training Centre.
The score at the end of regulation and extra-time was 1-1.
“It was a tough match but the penalties, could have gone either way,” said Japanese coach Hiroyuki Horino. “It has been a very good tournament for us and we have certainly learnt a lot.”
The match was always going to be close between two teams which have been so consistent throughout the tournament. At the start, both teams were just passing the ball around to feel their way through with Australia’s Hayley Raso testing Japanese keeper Miho early in the third minute that was blocked.
Six minutes later, Sayaka Horiuchi cut in the middle of the Australian defence for a feeble shot that hardly tested custodian Eliza Campbell. But in the 21st minute, some sustained pressure saw Natalie Tobin scoring from the edge of the Japanese box.
But the Japanese girls never gave up and despite having the lion’s share of the possession; they just could not find the back of the net up until the 48th minute when captain Koko Kaga blasted in the ball that took a deflection before sailing into goal.
Japan upped the ante by bringing in the pacey Asuka Doi and in the 72d minute, a double chance was wasted by both Muyuki Takahashi and Satsuki Hashiura.
With the game into extra-time, both teams seemed to be sapped from the heavy pitch, with chances very few and far in between as the dreaded penalties loomed.
Going first, Australia converted their first three chances through Georgia Yeoman, Sarah Carroll and Melissa Caceres but the fourth attempt from Natasha Wheeler was successfully blocked by Miho.
Japan on the other hand converted all their penalties through Miyuki, Koko, Mariko Tanaka, Asuka Mitsuhashi and Imai Haruka for the win.
In the meantime, Vietnam emerged third in the competition after beating hosts Myanmar 3-1, with goals off Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh (2nd minute), Tran Thi Kim Hong (14th) and Minh Nguyet (66th). Myanmar’s only goal in the game came off captain San San Maw in the 24th minute.
RESULTS
Final: Australia 1 (3) Japan 1 (5)
3rd / 4th Placing: Myanmar 1 Vietnam 3
