Japan thrash the Philippines 7-0 to reach Women’s Asian Cup semis
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Japan’s Riko Ueki directs a header off the goal post under pressure from the Philippines’ Angela Beard and goalkeeper Nina Meollo in their AFC Women's Asian Cup football quarter-final at Accor Stadium in Sydney on March 15, 2026.
PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY – Japan coach Nils Nielsen admitted he had lost track of how many goals his side have scored, after the two-time champions crushed the Philippines 7-0 on March 15 to book a Women’s Asian Cup semi-final with South Korea.
The dominant victory at Stadium Australia in Sydney also ensured they will be at a 10th consecutive World Cup in Brazil in 2027.
It was one-way traffic throughout but Japan were kept at bay by Philippines goalkeeper Nina Meollo until just before half-time.
Mina Tanaka broke the deadlock with a close-range header before Toko Koga doubled the lead from a corner.
Japan accelerated after the break as Remina Chiba struck in the 65th minute to make it 3-0.
Two minutes later, Manaka Matsukubo dribbled through the defence to add a fourth before Koga scored her second in the 75th minute.
Momoko Tanikawa added the sixth in the 86th minute and substitute Riko Ueki scored the seventh in the 90th to seal a dominant win for Japan, who have now scored 24 goals without reply in the tournament.
“So 24 goals, I wasn’t even aware of that, but I knew we had scored a lot, and that’s nice,” said Nielsen. “We will be ready to play South Korea.”
An equally ominous-looking South Korea crushed Uzbekistan 6-0 to progress to the last-four clash in Sydney on March 18.
Currently ranked eighth, the highest in the Asian Cup, Japan were a class above the Philippines, who move to a play-off game against Uzbekistan and will qualify for Brazil should they win. North Korea take on Chinese Taipei in the second play-off.
“They didn’t really challenge our defenders and we were in complete control,” said Nielsen.
Australia will play China in the other semi-final. REUTERS, AFP
