AFC U-16 Women’s Championship  Semi-Final vs U-16 Thailand Women’s National Team
2015-11-12 (Thu.) - 15:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
Xinhua Road Stadium (Wuhan, China)

U-16 Japan Women’s National Team   8-0 (3-0, 5-0)   U-16 Thailand Women’s National Team

Scores
5'   UEKI Riko (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
16'   TAKAHASHI Hana (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
36'   ENDO Jun (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
55'   MIYAZAWA Hinata (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
56'   MIYAZAWA Hinata (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
68'   UEKI Riko (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
75'   ENDO Jun (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)
84'   TAKARADA Saori (U-16 Japan Women’s National Team)

Line-ups
GK: YONEZAWA Moeka
DF: WAKISAKA Reina, ONO Nana, TAKAHIRA Miyu, MORINAKA Hina
MF: NAGANO Fuka, KANNO Oto, TAKARADA Saori, ENDO Jun
FW: UEKI Riko, TAKAHASHI Hana

Substitutes
GK: KOGURE Chiaki, TANAKA Momoko
DF: KANEKATSU Rio, KANEHIRA Risa, ICHINOSE Chisato, USHIJIMA Riko
MF: YONEI Honoka, ISERI Natsuki, KARAHASHI Mayu
FW: MIYAZAWA Hinata, KOJIMA Seira, MIURA Haruka

43'   TAKAHASHI Hana → MIYAZAWA Hinata
HT   WAKISAKA Reina → KANEHIRA Risa
70'   UEKI Riko → MIURA Haruka

Match Report

U-16 Japan Women's National Team met U-16 Thailand Women's National Team in the semi-final of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship China 2015 to play for a place in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

In light rain, Thailand took the kick off. After just five minutes, the forward UEKI Riko received the ball in the centre and dribbled up to take a shot, striking the opener. After 16 minutes, the defender TAKARADA Saori, who got through with a one-two with the midfielder NAGANO Fuka, sent a cross from the right side. Although the shot was once punched away by the goalkeeper, the forward TAKAHASHI Hana reacted to the loose ball and calmly slotted it into the goal, building a two-goal lead. 

In the 36th minute, Takahashi passed the ball from the defender TAKAHIRA Miyu to the forward ENDO Jun, who dribbled up towards the goal and took a shot. The match went into the second half 3-0 to Japan.

Japan continued to attack in the second half. After 55 minutes, Takarada, who received a through ball from Nagano, passed the ball towards the goal, where MIYAZAWA Hinata pressed up to strike Japan’s fourth goal. 

In the 56th minute, although a cross from Takarada was punched away by the goalkeeper, Miyazawa reacted to a loose ball and knock it into the goal, building a five-goal lead. Then Ueki struck a goal in the 68th minute, Endo in the 75th minute, and Takarada in the 84th, adding more insurance. Japan beat Thailand 8-0 in the end, and booked a place in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 in October.

The final against U-16 DPR Korea Women's National Team will kick off at 19:00 (20:00 Japan Time) on Sunday 15 November. 

Coach and Players' Comments

KUSUNOSE Naoki, Coach
In the meeting prior to the match, I encouraged the players to stick to our playing style, moving rhythmically on the pitch. However, we made many careless mistakes, not being able to initiate attack. Despite the fact we won the game 8-0, we found many problems to be solved. Having said that, I’d like to point out that we have improved our defensive line as well as our bond of solidarity as a team through each match. I am impressed with the players’ improvement. In the two days before the final, we’d like to prepare ourselves as much as possible.

MF ＃10  NAGANO Fuka (Urawa Reds Ladies Youth)
It was good that we struck the opener early on in the game. However, the quality of the play in the penalty area as well as the shots was not great at all. In the second half, we communicated with each other more to get through the opponent and take shots. I think we showed on the pitch what we learned in the first half. The next match will be the final. I’m determined to win the match to bring the trophy back home.

GK ＃18  YONEZAWA Moeka (Hinomoto Gakuen Senior High School)
As we were playing for a place in the World Cup, we all were too nervous to play our style in the first half. Having said that, we were very well tuned, and defended excellently. In the second half, we picked up our pace and scored a lot of goals. We still made mistakes, letting the opponent have some goal-scoring opportunities. However, I’m glad we kept a clean sheet as well as booking a place in the World Cup. I’d like to play as a team with fewer mistakes in the final to win the championship. 

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.