By Kieran Yap 14/3/24
Above: The Young Matildas. Photo : Tiff Williams, Football Australia.
A fluid, fast and ruthless Japan has won their U20 Asia Cup semi-final against the Young Matildas 5-1.
Goals to Hiromi Yoneda, Uno Shiragaki, Maya Hijikata, and Chinari Sasai, and an own goal sent Japan to a fourth consecutive final and a chance to win their seventh title at this level.
Following the short gap between games. Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney rotated the midfield. Maddie Caspers, Indiana Dos Santos and Zara Kruger all started in an attack minded setup, but Japan had the majority of the ball and Australia were pinned back early.
It took only three minutes to open the scoring. Yoneda’s corner kick falling into the net through the grasp of Chloe Lincoln. It was a situation similar to the earliest moments of this tournament, when South Kore scored in Australia’s first gsme.
As they did on that occasion, The Young Matildas struck back. Sasha Grove picked up the ball deep in defence and spotted an opportunity.
A burst of pace opened things up, then an interchange of passes between the Canberra United fullback, Daniela Galic and Millie Broughton set Peta Trimis free to run at goal.
Trimis sprinted beyond the offside trap and maintained her composure to cap the move off with her third goal in four games.
It was up there with Australia’s best moments of this Asian Cup campaign but it would also be the last highlight of this encounter.
Japan simply dominated, with 41 shots on goal and 74% of possession. Australia were chasing shadows and when they tried to press in midfield it only opened up space on the flank.
The full time score was an accurate reflection of the match, but still felt harsh. Three of the goals game in the final seven minutes as Australia looked for an equaliser. The definitive goal came in the 63rd minute when another Japan corner evaded the defence.
It says tough end to an otherwise terrific and exhilarating run by this Australia side and if youth tournaments are primarily about hope for the future, this month provided many reasons to be excited.
There is a gap, Japan are a benchmark side, and will go into the final as favourites, but Australia can compete at this level, and will now look to the third place playoff and then the big prize at the World Cup in Colombia.
This team, and these players individually will have gained from this experience, and the best is yet to come. This is prelude to some fantastic international careers.
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