The Vietnamese players tried their best, but Japan were just too strong. (Photo: VFF) A first half hat-trick from Manaka Matsukubo sealed thepredictable victory for the six-time champions, before six other players scoreseven goals in the second half to cap off an emphatic opener for the Young Nadeshiko.
As Vietnam are placed in what many would name "Group of Death",with continental giants Japan, China and the Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea (DPRK), Head Coach Akira Ijiri opted for a defensive formation tominimise the number of goals conceded.
However, it did not take long for Japan to find and take advantageof gaps made in the Vietnamese defence. In the 11th minute, Matsukubo openedthe score with a vicious curled shot.
The midfielder, who is playing in the US's NWSL for the NorthCarolina Courage, is regarded as one of Japan's promising talent, and sheproved her worth even more by scoring two more goals in the 31st and 44thminute.
Vietnam did have a goal opportunity near the end of the firsthalf, when Bui Thi Thuong was through on goal, but her lobbed shot was way overthe bar.
In the second half, Vietnam's defence stayed strong up until the56th minute when Hijikata scored Japan's fourth. As the stamina declined, sixmore goals were scored by Japan in the remainder of the match, with Hijikatacompleting her brace in the 64th minute, and Tsujisawa, Sasaki, Sasai, Yonedaand Shirasawa each finding the back of the net.
This result marked the biggest loss ever for the Vietnam nationalunder-20 women's football team, a sad record for Ijiri and his players.However, there is still a slim chance for qualification for the U20 Women's WorldCup, should Vietnam grab at least four points in their remaining two matchesagainst China and the DPRK, opponents who are as almost equal to Japan in theregional scene./.
VNA
