Japan overcome DPR Korea to win women's football title
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E-mail Xinhua, October 7, 2023
Japan beat DPR Korea 4-1 to claim the women's football gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday.
Japan had defeated China 4-3 while DPR Korea had thrashed Uzbekistan 8-0 to reach the final.
The two team were tied at 1-1 in the first half before the defending champions scored three goals in just seven second-half minutes to kill the match.
The defending champions enjoyed a dream start in the 10th minute as Yuzuki Yamamoto's perfect through pass found Yoshino Nakashima, who lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.
Kim Kyong Yong sent Wi Jong Sim's cross home in the 39th minute to equalize for DPR Korea.
The second half saw DPR Korea push hard at the beginning, but Japan seized the chance to counter-attack. Haruka Osawa headed Momoko Tanikawa's corner home in the 66th minute to regain the lead for Japan. Tanikawa curled a long-distance shot to double Japan's advantage three minutes later, before Remina Chiba fired home from a tight angle in the 72nd minute to clinch the victory for Japan.
In the third-place match, Chen Qiaozhu scored twice as China eased past Uzbekistan 7-0 to take the bronze medal.
Only 20 seconds after kick-off, Zhang Xin's left-wing cross found Ou Yiyao, who headed home to gift the host nation a dream start.
Chen Qiaozhu dribbled through the left and netted to double the lead for China in the 26th minute. Ou's pinpoint back-heel pass found Wang Shanshan, who fired the ball home from a tight angle to increase the lead to 3-0 in the 45th minute.
China kept their momentum in the second half. Wurigumula headed Yao Wei's cross home in the 59th minute, before Chen, Gu Yasha and Yao scored three goals in only five minutes to seal China's big win.
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