FPF Algarve Cup 2015
Fri. 6 March 2015 　Kickoff 12:10 　Playing time: 90 min（45min×2）
Algarve Stadium (Parchal, Portugal)

Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team) 3-0 (1st 1-0, 2nd 2-0) Portugal Women’s National Team

Score
36min　KAWAMURA Yuri（Japan）
54min　YOKOYAMA Kumi（Japan）
79min　SUGASAWA Yuika（Japan）

Starters
GK：FUKUMOTO Miho（C)
DF：KAMIONOBE Megumi、ARIYOSHI Saori, KAWAMURA Yuri、TANAKA Asuna
MF：UTSUGI Rumi、UETSUJI Yumi、YOKOYAMA Kumi、NAGASATO Asano
FW：TAKASE Megumi、SUGASAWA Yuika

Substitutes
GK：KAIHORI Ayumi、YAMANE Erina
DF：KINGA Yukari、IWASHIMIZU Azusa、KUMAGAI Saki、SAMESHIMA Aya
MF：SAKAGUCHI Mizuho、ANDO Kozue、MIYAMA Aya、KAWASUMI Nahomi
FW：OHNO Shinobu、OGIMI Yuki

73min　UTSUGI Rumi　→　SAKAGUCHI Mizuho
73min　NAGASATO Asano　→　ANDO Kozue
85min　SUGASAWA Yuika　→　KAWASUMI Nahomi

Match Report

For the Portugal match under gust wind, Japan changed their starting squad from the first match. Japan’s defensive line composed of Tanaka and Kawamura playing at centre, Ariyoshi being the right back and Kamionobe being the left back positon. In the midfield, Uetsuji and Utsugi took up the defensive midfielder positions while Nagasato played the right midfield and Yokoyama held down her first national team match spot on the left. Sugasawa and Takase played as strikers to start the match.

Japan were not able to take the offensive momentum against Portugal who sat back at their end just like Demark in the previous match. In the 31st minute, Utsugi turned around after winning the ball in the midfield and slotted it forward. Sugasawa responded to the pass but was caught offside. The match featured action in the 36th minute. Kawamura volleyed home the deflection from a corner kick to open the scoring. In the 41st minute, after Nagasato cut into the middle from the right flank, Yokoyama picked it up to fire a shot, which did not come through. Although Japan went on attacks to add more goals, the first half finished 1-0.

Japan got the second half off to a fine start by dominating the possession. In the 54th minute, Yokoyama, who received the ball on the left flank, cut into the middle and fired a blast into the right corner of the net to make it 2-0. She was the 15th player in the Japan women’s national team history who scored in their debut match and the first player since Tanaka Minami did in 2013. Japan caught their momentum with the goal and aggressively challenged to take shots. In the 79th minute, Sugasawa netted a through ball from Kawamura to give her side the third goal of the match. Japan went on attacks all the way to the end but were not able to convert them into an additional goal to end the match 3-0.

In Group C, France beat Denmark 4-1 to retain top spot. In the following head-to-head match, Japan look for the top of the group to make a berth for the final.

Comments

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach
After losing the first match, I replaced all the starting eleven in this match, which was a must-win match to be top contenders. It was good that we won it in such a situation. It would have been better if we could have broken through the opposing defence, but I saw players try to clear the assignment we got in the first match, which is switching sides. Before sending debutant Yokoyama onto the pitch, I told her to jump in the match and play with dribbles. She still has to learn various things like team defence, but showed a real eye for goal and her enthusiasm to score a goal. I want her to turn this experience into confidence to get an extra boost. Fine showings by young players also including Sugasawa and other players bring us motivation and give me a good problem to ponder who to play next. We will go all out to the next match against France.

UTSUGI Rumi（Montpellier Herault Sport Club）
When watching the France-Portugal match held day before yesterday, we found Portugal didn’t allow France to create any golden opportunity throughout 90 minutes. So we talked with each other to have a match to keep our concentration and stay composed. Thanks to Kawamura scoring a loose ball from the corner kick, it was huge that we scored in the first half. It’s difficult to keep playing hard-working game at the same rhythm during 90 minutes, so we tried to play with some variations, looking for space behind defensive line, and sometimes passing the ball to feet.

YOKOYAMA Kumi（AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies）
I wasn’t able to play my game at all and was told to challenge more aggressively at the break, so I tried to take shots. The goal was made from my favourite angle and favourite pattern. I got a good feeling at the moment when I took a shot. As long as I’m on the pitch, I am one of the eleven players under the title of National Team. I was allowed to stand on the place where the only eleven players can stand. I felt responsibility as well as pressure when playing the match. I’ve got a result, which is a goal, but I have more to improve. As I became reluctant when I could’ve challenged and also had lots of bad traits in defence, I’ve got some homework. I will try to improve them.

TANAKA Asuna（INAC Kobe Leonessa）
All the players were replaced and the team was refreshed from the first match, so we cooperated and talked to each other to do what we can do. As a defender, I followed front players pressing forward and coordinated with other three defenders and goalkeeper Fukumoto when to push up and stay back. We had tough time playing our game earlier partially because of strong wind and wrong distance kept between players, but we were able to make adjustments in the second half. On the offence side, we focused on running behind defensive line and leaned a bit too much on long passes, but it was good we scored three goals. We will definitely want to reach the final by winning against France in the next match.

Schedule

*Local Time