Japan into Asian Cup semis with Philippines thrashing

George Clarke |

Japan have cruised into the Asian Cup semi-finals with a 7-0 drubbing of the Philippines.
Japan have cruised into the Asian Cup semi-finals with a 7-0 drubbing of the Philippines.

Japan have put a spirited Philippines outfit to the sword, booking their ticket to the Women’s Asian Cup semi-finals with a ruthless 7-0 win.

For 45 minutes, Mark Torcaso’s side repelled and frustrated the Japanese at Stadium Australia, before two first-half stoppage-time goals in Sydney set the world No.8 on the path to victory.

Mina Tanaka and Toko Koga scored for Japan just before the halftime break in Sunday’s quarter-final as the side secured qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil with a win in front of 13,321 fans.

Koga grabbed her second goal in the second half as Remina Chiba, Manaka Matsukubo, Momoko Tanikawa and Riko Ueki also added to the Filipinas’ misery to tee up a semi-final clash with rivals South Korea in Sydney on Wednesday.

Toko Koga (centre)
Toko Koga (centre) scored a double as Japan also booked their place in next year’s World Cup. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Japan have scored 24 goals through their first four games and are the only side yet to concede at this year’s tournament.

Their dominance was on full display as Nils Nielsen’s outfit enjoyed 85 per cent of possession and had 16 shots on target to the Philippines’ zero. 

The Phillipines’ hopes of reaching the World Cup remain alive and will hinge on the result of Thursday’s play-off against Uzbekistan on the Gold Coast.

But from the first minute on Sunday, Japan’s star-studded side were completely in control and had the Philippines camped back in their own penalty box.

Try as they might, the Japanese could not crack a resolute Filipino defence that opted to bench first-choice left-back Angie Beard and No.1 goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel with an eye on the Uzbekistan play-off. 

Nina Meollo was handed the gloves instead and did well to repel goal-bound efforts from Hinata Miyazawa and Yui Hasegawa.

Japan's Mina Tanaka and the Philippines' Hali Long
Japan’s Mina Tanaka and the Philippines’ Hali Long were up for the challenge in Sydney. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

As halftime beckoned the Phillipines’ resistance eventually cracked when they failed to deal with two Japanese corners in quick succession. 

The first came courtesy of Tanaka, who headed over the line following a chaotic goal-mouth scramble, before Koga rose high at the front post and glanced another past Meollo.

Chiba and Matsukubo further extended Japan’s lead in a 120-second double salvo just after the hour mark. 

Koga added her second from a set-piece, before close-range goals from Tanikawa and Ueki completed the rout. 

AAP