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NEWS
14/01/2010
Yamaguchi strike helps Nadeshiko beat Denmark in Chile
Forward Mami Yamaguchi scored the game’s only goal in the first half to help the Nadeshiko Japan women’s team edge Denmark 1-0 in their opening match at the Bicenntenial Women’s Cup in Chile on Wednesday.
Japan, fielding a young team, played aggressively from the start.
The Nadeshiko went ahead in the 14th minute when Yamaguchi, who played for Swedish powerhouse Umeo IK in the past two seasons, took a ball from midfielder Natsuko Hara, dribbled up the field and calmly slotted home the opener.
Boosted by the goal, the Japanese women controlled the rest of the half.
After the break, however, Denmark fought back and put their opponents under pressure.
The Danish team threatened the Japanese goal with attempts from Line Sigvardsen Jensen and Johanna Rasmussen, but Japan goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto played well to protect her goal, and her teammates managed to hold on to the end.
“I’m so glad I could score,”.Yamaguchi said. “I got a good ball from Hara and was able to get into the space behind their backline,”
Nadeshiko Japan coach Norio Sasaki commented, “We made too many unforced errors, which shows that our players haven't taken on the things we've been working on in training.”
“But we had some new caps today and we were able to beat Denmark with this team. I think that is important,” Sasaki said.
Japan will next play hosts Chile on Friday night, before meeting Colombia on January 21 and Argentina on January 23 in the round-robin competitition.
Japan, fielding a young team, played aggressively from the start.
The Nadeshiko went ahead in the 14th minute when Yamaguchi, who played for Swedish powerhouse Umeo IK in the past two seasons, took a ball from midfielder Natsuko Hara, dribbled up the field and calmly slotted home the opener.
Boosted by the goal, the Japanese women controlled the rest of the half.
After the break, however, Denmark fought back and put their opponents under pressure.
The Danish team threatened the Japanese goal with attempts from Line Sigvardsen Jensen and Johanna Rasmussen, but Japan goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto played well to protect her goal, and her teammates managed to hold on to the end.
“I’m so glad I could score,”.Yamaguchi said. “I got a good ball from Hara and was able to get into the space behind their backline,”
Nadeshiko Japan coach Norio Sasaki commented, “We made too many unforced errors, which shows that our players haven't taken on the things we've been working on in training.”
“But we had some new caps today and we were able to beat Denmark with this team. I think that is important,” Sasaki said.
Japan will next play hosts Chile on Friday night, before meeting Colombia on January 21 and Argentina on January 23 in the round-robin competitition.
