The 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup final was a football match at the Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan which determined the winner of the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. The final was contested between Japan and Australia, teams which were also the finalists of the previous edition held in 2014.
Japan defeated Australia 1–0 in the final to win their second consecutive title.
Background Japan were the defending champions of the AFC Women's Asian Cup having defeated Australia in the final of the 2014 edition in Vietnam to win their first continental title. The two sides had met in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Their encounter ended in a 1–1 draw.
The match also marked Australia's third consecutive appearance in a Women's Asian Cup final. This feat was last achieved by China which featured in the final of the 2003, 2006, and 2008 editions.
Australia's previous victory against Japan in a major tournament was their match up at the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam, where it knockout their East Asian opposition out of the semifinals and win the title. Australia has been beaten by Japan since then including their quarter final loss in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Route to the final
Australia and Japan were both part of Group B in the group stage. Australia finished as group leaders and had to face second-placers Thailand in the semifinal while Japan had to play against China, the Group A leaders. The semifinalists of the tournament including Australia and Japan secured a berth at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup by finishing among the top two teams in their group.
Australia was trailing 1–2 to Thailand in their semifinal tie before Australia made an equalizer just before the end of the regulation time. This meant that the match had to go to extra time but no further goals were made and penalty shoot-out was held to determine which among the two teams to advance to the final. Australia outscored Thailand in the penalties. Japan won over China in the other semifinal with the sole Chinese goal being scored from a penalty kick in the 90th minute.
JapanRoundAustraliaOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult4–0Match 10–00–0Match 28–01–1Match 31–1Final standingsOpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult3–1Semi-finals2–2 (3–1 p)
Match Australian winger Hayley Raso, right knee injury, was ruled out of the final.
In the first half, Australia had a chance to score when they were awarded a penalty after Saki Kumagai handled Tameka Butt’s shot at goal in the 14th minute, but Ayaka Yamashita saved the penalty from Elise Kellond-Knight.
In the 84th minute, substitute Kumi Yokoyama received the ball from Yui Hasegawa and shot the ball into the top corner of the net from 18 yards scoring the winning goal.
Details
GK 18Ayaka YamashitaRB 22Risa ShimizuCB 4 Saki Kumagai (c) CB 5 Nana IchiseLB 10Mizuho SakaguchiRM 7 Emi NakajimaCM 14Yui HasegawaCM 2 Rumi UtsugiLM 3 Aya SameshimaSS 13Yuika Sugasawa CF 8 Mana IwabuchiSubstitutes:GK 1 Sakiko IkedaGK 21Chika HiraoDF 6 Saori AriyoshiDF 17Hikari TakagiDF 23Shiori MiyakeMF 12Hikaru NaomotoMF 15Moeno SakaguchiMF 16Rin SumidaMF 19Rika Masuya FW 9 Nahomi KawasumiFW 11Mina TanakaFW 20Kumi Yokoyama Manager:Asako Takakura GK 1 Lydia WilliamsRB 8 Elise Kellond-Knight CB 4 Clare PolkinghorneCB 14Alanna KennedyLB 7 Steph Catley (c)CM 10Emily van EgmondCM 6 Chloe LogarzoRW 21Ellie CarpenterAM 13Tameka ButtLW 11Lisa De Vanna CF 20Sam KerrSubstitutes:GK 12Casey DumontGK 18Mackenzie ArnoldDF 2 Caitlin CooperDF 5 Laura AllewayMF 3 Aivi LuikMF 9 Alex ChidiacMF 19Katrina GorryFW 15Emily GielnikFW 17Kyah Simon FW 22Larissa CrummerFW 23Michelle HeymanManager:Alen Stajcic
Aftermath Japan won their second AFC Women's Asian Cup title. Japan's win also marks the first time a national team won the continental title two times consecutively, a feat last done North Korea who emerged champions of the 2001 and 2003 editions. It was also the first title won by Japan women's team under the tutelage of manager, Asako Takakura and the third major title within the last seven years.
References