SYDNEY
\nBayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tanikawa finally cracked a dogged Taiwan on Wednesday as powerhouse Japan kicked off their Women\u2019s Asian Cup with a 2-0 victory in Perth. Brimming with a talented squad featuring 16 England-based players, Japan dominated a one-sided match played in fierce heat.
\nBut they were left frustrated by an inability to hit the target other than Tanikawa\u2019s strike in the 61st minute and a header from substitute Kiko Seike in the 92nd minute. The highest ranked team in the competition at eight, Japan are desperate for a third title to add to their back-to-back triumphs in 2014 and 2018.
\nBut they will need to clean up their finishing touches after attempting 30 shots and enjoying almost 90 percent of possession. \u201cWe need to be a little more sharp but this was the first game and we open with three points, so you cannot be unhappy with that,\u201d Japan coach Nils Nielsen said.
\nTaiwan, who reached the final eight in the last edition in 2022, did not have a shot on goal but fought gamely with goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting producing a superb performance.
\nUnder Greenland-born Nielsen, Japan\u2019s first foreign-born women\u2019s coach, the team have vowed to play in a fast and brash manner.
\nHeeding Nielsen\u2019s words, Japan were aggressive from the outset and peppered the goal but without success.
\nTaiwan were clinging on against the odds with Wang pulling off a spectacular save to deny a bullet from Mina Tanaka.
\nTanikawa then hit the left post as Japan had an astonishing 13 shots within the opening 15 minutes.
\nTaiwan\u2019s woes deepened when forward Pu Hsin-hui limped off the field after an apparent left knee injury.
\nThey continued to bravely defend, leaving Japan flustered as the teams took a drinks break at the 32nd minute with the temperature hitting 36C.
\nJapan came perilously close to breaking the deadlock just before half-time only for Wang to prove a thorn.
\nTaiwan\u2019s embattled defence had 35 clearances in the first half, with each one cheered enthusiastically by their vocal supporters, who livened up the sparse terraces.
\nWang was again put to work after the interval as she smothered Tanaka\u2019s attempt from short range.
\nBut Wang was finally helpless when Tanikawa slotted home after being on the receiving end of a superb pass from Hana Takahashi.
\nJapan\u2019s celebrations were made to wait with VAR needed to determine whether the ball deflected Tanikawa\u2019s hand on the way down.
\nIt appeared to be Japan\u2019s only goal until Seike stepped up late.
\nIndia and Vietnam are also in Group C and play each other later Wednesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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