AFC U-16 Women’s Championship  Group League 1st Match vs U-16 Uzbekistan  Women’s National Team
2015-11-5 (Thu.) - 15:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
Xinhua Road Stadium (Wuhan, China)

U-16 Japan Women’s National Team   4-0 (0-0, 4-0)   U-16 Uzbekistan  Women’s National Team

Scores
54'   NAGANO Fuka (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
60'   UEKI Riko (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
78'   MIYAZAWA Hinata (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
81'   TAKARADA Saori (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)

Line-ups
GK: TANAKA Momoko
DF: WAKISAKA Reina, ICHINOSE Chisato, TAKARADA Saori, MORINAKA Hina
MF: YONEI Honoka, NAGANO Fuka, KARAHASHI Mayu, ISERI Natsuki
FW: UEKI Riko, MIURA Haruka

Substitutes
GK: KOGURE Chiaki, YONEZAWA Moeka
DF: KANEKATSU Rio, ONO Nana, KANEHIRA Risa, TAKAHIRA Miyu, USHIJIMA Riko
MF: KANNO Oto
FW: MIYAZAWA Hinata, KOJIMA Seira, TAKAHASHI Hana, ENDO Jun

64'   YONEI Honoka → MIYAZAWA Hinata
82'   ISERI Natsuki → KANEHIRA Risa
85'   TANAKA Momoko → KOGURE Chiaki

Match Report

U-16 Japan Women's National Team met the Uzbekistan Women's National Team for the group stage first match in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship China 2015.

Japan started the match cautiously due to nerves in the first half. However, they gradually picked up the pace.

After 10 minutes, the ball was passed form the defender MORINAKA Hina to the midfielder NAGANO Fuka, and the forward UEKI Riko, who received the ball on the left side, dribbled up to get through the opponent. She was knocked down just outside the penalty area, and earned a free kick. The midfielder KARAHASHI Mayu passed the ball sideways to Nagano. The defender TAKARADA Saori, who reacted to a cross from Nagano, went close with a header, only for it to go wide.

In the 35th minute, Ueki ran towards a through ball from the forward MIURA Haruka, facing the goalkeeper 1-on-1 to make a shot. The goalkeeper, however, saved the goal, and Japan struggled against Uzbekistan’s strong defence. The match went into the second half at 0-0. 

At the beginning of the second half, the match began to take off. After 54 minutes, Ueki, who ran towards a ball from Nagano, passed it back to the space in front of the goal, where Nagano took a shot, striking the long-awaited opener. Japan then took the initiative.

In the 60th minute, the goalkeeper punched Miura’s shot away, but the midfielder YONEI Honoka reacted to a loose ball and passed it Ueki, who ran into the space. Ueki slotted it into the goal, scoring the second goal for Japan. 

Japan continued to attack. The forward MIYAZAWA Hinata, who came off the bench, scored a goal in the 78th minute, and Takarada in the 81st minute. The U-16 Japan Women's National Team won the game against Uzbekistan 4-0, and earned three points. 

Coach and Players' Comments

KUSUNOSE Naoki, Coach
We aimed to perform aggressively under the slogan "our strength to the world", playing hard both in attack and defence. However, we couldn’t pick up our pace at the beginning due to nervousness. In the second half, the distance between the players became better, and they started to pass the ball around, creating goal-scoring opportunities. 

We won the match 4-0 in the end. We’d like to learn from today’s match, including our mental attitude, in order to play our style in the match against Chinese Taipei.

DF #3  WAKISAKA Reina (Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies)
It was great that we won our first match. Although I was really nervous, we supported each other. We struggled and couldn’t find the back of the net in the first half, but we managed to score four goals in the second half. I’d like to build up positive momentum for us and get ourselves ready for the coming game against Chinese Taipei.

FW #7  MIYAZAWA Hinata (Seisa Kokusai High School Shonan)
As it was our first game, there was an intense atmosphere around us before the match. I was on the bench at the beginning, but I was still really nervous. In the first half, we struggled to score.

However, striking the opener in the second half impacted the game. We struck two consecutive goals. Although I was still nervous when I came off the bench, I stayed focused to play my style, going forward. As a result, I could score a goal myself. As we expected tougher matches, I’d like to embrace my nerves, so that we can show our playing style in every game.

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

AFC U-16 Women’s Championship China 2015 

Japan is in Group B. Group A includes Chaina PR, Thailand, Iran, Korea Republic.
Top two teams will qualify for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016.