The night was low, and at 18:20 on July 26, the women's soccer event of the 2022 East Asian Football Confederation (EAFC) E-1 Championship ushered in the third round of fierce battles. The Chinese women's soccer team took on the Japanese hosts at the Kashima Stadium in a battle of goals and errors. In the first half, Miyazawa Hinata scuffed the ball with a delicate curling shot, and Inoue Ayaka fired a powerful shot from inside the penalty area. Zhu Yu pounced on the ball, but escaped from the goal due to Gao Chen's speedy clearance. Xiao Yu Yi received a header back from Wang Shuang, Wang Shanshan's cross was deflected by the Japanese goalkeeper, and the two sides exchanged blanks in the first half.
In the second half, Riko Ueki's long-distance shot hit the crossbar, and Wei Narimiya came on as a substitute and fired a shot into the far corner of the net, which deflected off the post.After 90 minutes of intense fighting, China shook hands with Japan 0-0, and finished as the runners-up in the East Asian Cup with five points from one win, two draws and two victories.
In the first two rounds of the East Asian Cup, China's women's soccer team won 1 and drew 1 and accumulated 4 points, while Japan's women's soccer team won all 2 games and accumulated 6 points. If they win, the Chinese women's soccer team will win the championship for the first time; if they draw, they will get the second place, and if they lose, they will get the third place.
In the first five minutes of the match, the Chinese team showed a strong desire to attack, and the Japanese team could only play passive defense. Chiba Rei Kane curved a shot on goal, the ball grazed the goal. Wang Frost sent a direct pass to Zhang Rui, the Japanese defender blocked it in time. Inoue Ayaka burst into the penalty area, Zhu Yu pounced on the ball off, Gao Chen grabbed the success. Miyagawa Maidu stabbed the ball, Zhu Yu near the corner of the ball to save.
In the second half, Zhang Linyan replaced Xiao Yuyi. Riko Ueki's shot hit the crossbar and China escaped. Nagano Kazuhana's shot hit the side netting, Wang Xiaoxue was fouled, Japan was awarded a free kick, Hayashi Suiyuka took the penalty, Yao Wei's header spoiled the game.
Tang Jiali and Song Duan came on as substitutes, while Wang Shanshan and Wu Chengshu were replaced. Wang Linlin was fouled in the midfield. Tang Jiali sent a direct pass to Wang Shanshan, the ball was destroyed by Japanese defenders. Wei Narimiya scuffed her shot against the post. In the end, China drew 0-0 with Japan and pocketed the second place in the East Asian Cup.
Starting lineups for both sides
China women's soccer team
1 - Zhu Yu; 2 - Wang Linlin, 3 - Wang Xiaoxue, 7 - Wang Shuang, 8 - Yao Wei, 10 - Zhang Rui, 11 - Wang Shanshan, 15 - Wu Chengshu, 16 - Yao Lingwei, 20 - Xiao Yuyi, 23 - Gao Chen
China Women's Soccer Substitutes
4-Li Jiayue, 5-Wu Haiyan, 6-Zhang Xin, 9-Lv Yueyun, 12-Xu Huan, 13-Yang Lina, 14-Lou Jiahui, 17-Liu Yanqiu, 18-Tang Jiali, 19-Zhang Linyan, 21-Song Duan, 22-Pan Hongyan, 24-He Zhaofen, 25-Li Mengwen, 26-Wan Jiayao.
Japan women's soccer team
1-Akoyaka Yamashita; 2-Risa Shimizu, 3-Saori Takarada, 6-Madu Miyagawa, 16-Honoka Hayashi; 7-Hinako Miyazawa, 10-Fumika Nagano, 13-Ayaka Inoue, 15-Reikai Chiba, 4-Hana Takahashi, 19-Riko Ueki.
