HANGZHOU, China: On Friday( Oct.6 ), Japan successfully defended their women’s Asian Games football gold medal as second-half goals from Haruka Osawa, Momoko Tanikawa and Remina Chiba sealed a 4 – 1 victory over North Korea.
The 36, 166 spectators cheered the North Koreans on violently, but they lost six hours in the middle of the second half to the Japanese, who won the second Asian Games in consecutive editions.
The North Koreans had led the first exchanges, but it didn’t matter because Japan took the lead on the desk in the tenth minute after Yuzuki Yamamoto’s astute pass behind the defense freed Yoshino Nakashima.
With her first-time finish, the striker made no mistakes, sending her shot past the advancing Kim Un Hui’s extended hand.
Choe Ku Mok and Hong Song Ok of North Korea were both off-target with attempts from a distance, and Toko Koga of Japan blocked Sung Hyang Sim’s attempt at purpose with an expertly timed problem in the charges area.
After Wi Jong Sim sprinted down the left before sending in a small center that Kim Kyong Yong powered into the lower part, much to the delight of the group, the equalizer did finally arrive in the 38th moment.