Sam Kerr helps Matildas end Japanese hex and ensure World Cup qualification
THE eight-year Japanese big tournament curse was finally broken by a goal from world-class Matildas superstar Sam Kerr — sadly for football fans the football then became farcical.
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THE eight-year Japanese big tournament hex was finally broken by a goal from world-class Matildas superstar Sam Kerr but in an incredible scenario both teams walked off smiling.
With Kerr’s goal being enough for both teams to qualify for the World Cup the game turned farcical.
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Both teams refused to get the ball forward due to the rewards for the 1-1 draw at Amman Stadium on Saturday (EST).
After Japan beat Australia in the 2014 Asian Cup final in Vietnam and eliminated the Matildas from the 2015 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Canada it looked like the Japanese were about to break Australian hearts again.
Just as the Matildas looked to be crashing out of AFC Asian Cup contention to a side which has caused so much grief since 2010 when Australia beat the Japanese on the way to winning a maiden Asian Cup, Kerr was the hero.
Kerr smacking an 8m shot into the back of the net after a Kyah Simon cross was spilt by Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita got Australia out of jail was sweet justice.
Kerr’s goal now sees Australia face Thailand in the semi-final of the competition on Wednesday.
Sam Kerr Scores Goal to level score at 1-1, Video courtesy of: TV Asahi, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 #womensfootball #WSUlive #soccer #football #WAC2018 #Jordan2018 #GoMatildas #Nadeshiko #JPNvAUS pic.twitter.com/76WZ8AUgGK
— WomensSoccerUnited (@WSUasa) April 13, 2018
Australia topped Group B equal on five points with Japan second and South Korea out of Asian Cup contention in third spot.
Head-to-head results between Australia, Japan and South Korea sorted the order of the finish.
The score draw between Japan and Australia eliminated the two scoreless draws with South Korea from each side earlier in the tournament.
Australia and Japan have also qualified for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
It was a riveting clash until Kerr’s goal however.
Muzuho Sakaguchi, 30, a 2011 FIFA World Cup champion and 2014 Asian Cup winner drove a huge dagger through Australia’s hearts when she calmly slotted a beautiful cut back from Hasegawa Yui in the 62nd minute.
the heatmaps for #JPNvAUS before and after Kerr's goal #WAC2018 pic.twitter.com/QIr0pZz0WO
— Dale Roots (@dale_roots) April 13, 2018
HoldsIt.gif #JPNvAUS In the four minutes it's taken to make this gif they've literally done the exact same thing the entire time. pic.twitter.com/VfCrgimPN6
— West Sydney Football (@WestSydney) April 13, 2018
Hasegawa continued to ask all the questions of Australia’s defence from left back before finding the space to deliver the killer assist for Sakaguchi.
The goal clearly unsettled the Matildas as Japan was content to sit deep and pick off Australia in transition when sporadic attacks didn’t leave a mark.
The Matildas however played its cards as if they needed victory — a draw would suffice — for a place in the last four of the AFC Asian Cup but as it pressed hard and high chances were wasted.
Yamashita not having a save to make in the first half wasn’t quite the complete picture.
Australia through right-back Ellie Carpenter’s quick long throws caught the Japanese off guard many times.
As the Matildas continually broke the last Japanese lines wide, once the ball was central there were too many defenders inside the box for any Matilda to have a clear shot on target.
Australia did catch Japan short of numbers in transition just once in the first half.
Skipper Emily van Egmond’s long ball from a turnover saw the Japanese out of position but by the time veteran Lisa de Vanna tried to get a leg onto the ball inside the six yard box, Japan had the numbers to see the danger fizzle as the ball rolled out for a goal kick in the 15th minute.
For all of Australia’s early half chances, Kerr blasting a long shot over the bar seemed to be a turning point for the Japanese in the 31st minute.
The underdog looked comfortable as Australia tried to force the issue.
Even the four wingers at times — Chloe Logarzo, de Vanna and full backs Carpenter and Steph Catley pushing very high — didn’t rattle the reigning Asian Cup champion before the game started swinging Japan’s way when left back Hasegawa started finding space.
Japan however had the same problem, as Australia’s stoppers Claire Polkinghorne and Alana Kennedy refused to be drawn out of position which meant Japan striker Yuika Sugasawa was always isolated in an open match dominated by a clogged midfield battle.
De Vanna forced off just six minutes into the second half after falling heavily when she slipped on the turf in the 47th minute saw Hayley Raso take on the responsibilities of trying to crack Japan.
The theme was much the same as the start of the first half, Japan was camped deep and Australia had to be wary of being caught on the counter.
Hasegawa was again calling the shots and in the 62nd minute. Her ball to Mana Iwabuchi saw Lydia Williams tested for the first time but she made a comfortable save from an 18m shot.
A minute later Sakaguchi had the ball into the back of the net from 10m.
It was a goal which had Australia on the brink of Asian Cup elimination until Kerr’s goal.
AFC women’s Asian Cup
GROUP B final match
Australia 1 (Sam Kerr 86m) Japan 1 (Mizuho Sakaguchi 62m) at Amman Stadium — Referee: Ri Hyang OK (North Korea0
Other Group B matches
South Korea 4 Vietnam 0 at King Abdullah II Stadium.
Standings after three Group B matches
Australia — 5 points (+10 goals)
Japan — 5 pts (+4 goals)
South Korea — 5 pts (+4 goals)
Vietnam — 0 pts (-16 goals)
AFC Asian Cup semi finals
Tuesday/Wednesday
China v Japan at King Abdullah II Stadium
Kick off: 11.45pm (EST)
Australia v Thailand at King Abdullah II Stadium
Kick off: 3am (EST)
FIFA World Cup play off
Tuesday
South Korea v Philippines at Amman Stadium
Kick off: 3am (EST)
Originally published as Sam Kerr helps Matildas end Japanese hex and ensure World Cup qualification