CHRISTCHURCH – Japan have convincingly won Group C at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after coming from a goal and a player down to put in another clinical display dispatching Paraguay 7-2 at QEII Stadium in Christchurch.

It was the second consecutive game that the Japanese have struck seven goals and showcased the talent in depth of their squad.

With qualification through to the quarterfinals already guaranteed Japanese Coach Hiroshi Yoshida decided to rest all but two of the side who tore apart France 7-1 in their previous game in Hamilton.

Paraguay took full advantage of the reshuffled line up and got off to a perfect start after 17 minutes when striker Gloria Villamayor rushed into the box only to be brought down by Japanese defender Minori Chiba.

Romanian referee Cristina Dorcioman ruled that Chiba was the last defender and saw no option but to send her off the field for an early shower.

Jacqueline Gonzalez made no mistake from the resulting spot kick, blasting a firm drive into the top corner that Japanese keeper Sakiko Ikeda could do nothing about.

The goal seemed to stir life into the dormant Japanese attack and soon after they showed off their attacking threat with three goals in the space of seven minutes.

The first came from the head of Captain Natsuki Kishikawa after she was the bravest in the box, climbing highest to get her head on a dipping dangerous corner.

Four minutes later Marika Oshima gave the Japanese the lead with a firm left footed strike under the Japanese keeper after some good build up play with Saori Takahashi.

Two minutes before half time Haruka Hamada gave Japan some safety with a cracking right footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Paraguay played well for the first half hour, but seemed to lose concentration for a 15 minute period that Japan exploited to the full. Paraguay always looked likely on the counter attack through the pace and tenacity of tiny forward Rebeca Fernandez.

After a lively and eventful first half, Japan went into the break firmly in control but Paraguay came out firing again with Fernandez leading the charge.

She cracked the crossbar with a powerful right footed drive from outside the box in the 50th minute and looked at times as though she was leading the Paraguay attack by herself.

From then it was all Japan as they stepped it up a gear and demonstrated their class in the attacking third.

Hamada got her second on 52 minutes – sending a rocket into the top corner from outside the box.

Gloria Villamayor pulled a goal back for Paraguay three minutes later with a classy left footed finish after showing a great turn of pace to escape the Japanese defence.

Paraguay defender Paola Genes made the task tougher for her team mates in the 71st minute when she received her second bookable offence and levelled the field to 10 v 10.

Kishikawa collected her second of the night on 73 minutes with a potent freekick past Ikeda in the Japanese goal.

Saori Takahashi completed the rout with a late double in the 83rd and 89th minute bringing a curtain down on a brave Paraguay performance and an action packed match.

Yoshida was impressed with how his team reacted to the early set back.

"I thought we reacted very well and even when we went a player down the team stuck together and stayed positive.

"I don’t see ourselves as favourites for the tournament. I just think we’ve been one of the best teams up until now."

Paraguay goalscorer Gloria Villamayor was full of praise for her opponents. 

"We took the lead and tried to hold on to it up to the break but we just couldn’t get there.

"Japan are a very good side and it was no surprise to see them come back. Although we’ve gone out of the competition, this has been a very positive experience for us. We have learned an awful lot together in the last year and that will stand us in good stead for future tournaments." 

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand 2008

Japan (3) 7 (Natsuki KISHIKAWA 36’, 73’; Marika OHSHIMA 40’; Haruka HAMADA 43’, 52’; Saori TAKAHASHI 83’, 89’)

Paraguay (1) 2 (Jacqueline GONZALEZ 20’; Gloria VILLAMAYOR 55’)

QEII Park

Christchurch

New Zealand

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Kick-off: 16h00

Attendance:

JPN: 16. Sakiko IKEDA; 3. Minori CHIBA ; 4. Nagisa OKUDA (2. Kozue CHIBA 63’); 5.Natsuki KISHIKAWA (c); 13. Takako SUGIYAMA (12. Yuiko INOUE 73’); 14. Kei YOSHIOKA; 15.Saori TAKAHASHI; 17.Minami ISHIDA; 18. Marika OHSIMA; 19.Haruka HAMADA; 20. Yoko TANAKA;

Substitutes not used: 1. Saki NAKAMURA; 21. Ayaka SAITOH; 6.Natsumi KAMEOKA; 7. Chiaki SHIMADA; 8. Yuko TAKEYAMA; 9. Chinatsu KIRA; 10. Mana IWABUCHI (68’); 11. Akane SAITO;

Yellow cards:

Red cards:

Coach: Hiroshi YOSHIDA(JPN)

PAR: 1. Zulma ORUE (12. Sara TORRES 57’); 5. Paola GENES; 6. Jacqueline GONZALEZ; 7. Rebeca FERNANDEZ; 8. Paola ZALAZAR;10. Ana FLEITAS; 11. Gloria VILLAMAYOR; 13. Raquel CARRERAS; 14. Evelyn ARMOA; 17. Maria TOLEDO (19. Melissa TALAVERA 52’); 20. Mara TALAVERA (4. Noelia CUEVAS 35’);

Substitutes not used: 2. Erika ROLON; 15. Macarena TOLEDO; 16. Mirna DIAZ; 21. Vivian GONZALEZ; 3. Cris Mabel FLORES; 9. Karen RUIZ DIAZ (C); 18. Jacqueline RIVAS;

Yellow cards:

Red cards:

Coach: Carlos BAEZ (PAR)

Referee: Cristina DORCIOMAN (ROU)

Assistant Referee 1: Ingrida SILIUNIENE (LTU)

Assistant Referee 2: Secim DEMIREL (TUR)

Fourth Official: WANG Jia (CHN)

Group C Final Standings:

Team

 MP W D L GF GA Pts
Japan 3 3 0 0 17 5 9
USA 3 1 1 1 6 5 4
France 3 1 1 1 8 10 4
Paraguay 3 0 0 3 5 16 0