Football: Japan down China, to face South Korea for East Asian title
Defending champions Japan moved to a 2-0 win-loss record to join hosts South Korea at the top of the four-team table, and the two teams will meet Tuesday for the title.
Mao Hosoya got world No. 17 Japan on the scoresheet against 94th-ranked China with a powerful strike from just outside the box in the 11th minute at Yongin Mireu Stadium in a Seoul suburb.
Six minutes later, China had a great chance to equalize, but Japan goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa denied Zhang Yuning in a one-on-one situation.
Henry Heroki Mochizuki doubled the Samurai Blue's lead in the 63rd minute with his first goal for Japan.
"I think my goal came out of my aggressiveness," the 23-year-old Machida Zelvia player said. "I tried to join the attack as much as possible. I know I still have a lot to work on in both attack and defense, but I'll try to get better and cement my place on the team."
Japan's E-1 championship squad has been selected entirely from the domestic J-League by manager Hajime Moriyasu. Veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo, 38, made his first Japan appearance since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Both China and Hong Kong have lost two matches in a row.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
14 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Football: Reims president admits Keito Nakamura looking for transfer
AMIENS, France (Kyodo) -- Japan attacker Keito Nakamura is seeking to leave French Ligue 2 club Reims this summer, their president said Monday. But Jean-Pierre Caillot was adamant the future of the 25-year-old, who scored 11 goals in the top-tier Ligue 1 last term, lies at his club. "He's under contract with us," Caillot said after Reims drew their season opener 2-2 away to Amiens, where Nakamura was not in the matchday squad. "I don't know (about offers from other clubs). Either way, he will stay at Reims." Nakamura, who joined Reims from Austrian outfit LASK in the summer of 2023 on a five-year contract, became the first Japanese player to score in five consecutive games in a major European league last October. Reims were eventually relegated, however, after they finished 16th and lost in the promotion-relegation playoff. Nakamura was also absent from Reims' preseason tour of Japan through Aug. 2, in which they lost to J-League second-division club Montedio Yamagata 1-0 and top-tier side Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 before beating J1 Gamba Osaka 2-1. Back in May, Nakamura told Kyodo News he was determined to "survive" the battle to make the Japan squad for next summer's World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United Sates. "It's the stage I've been dreaming of since I was little. What I have in front of me now really is the biggest chance," he said. "I want to score at the World Cup finals."
Kyodo News
20 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Football: Reims president admits Nakamura looking for transfer
AMIENS, France - Japan attacker Keito Nakamura is seeking to leave French Ligue 2 club Reims this summer, their president said Monday. But Jean-Pierre Caillot was adamant the future of the 25-year-old, who scored 11 goals in the top-tier Ligue 1 last term, lies at his club. "He's under contract with us," Caillot said after Reims drew their season opener 2-2 away to Amiens, where Nakamura was not in the matchday squad. "I don't know (about offers from other clubs). Either way, he will stay at Reims." Nakamura, who joined Reims from Austrian outfit LASK in the summer of 2023 on a five-year contract, became the first Japanese player to score in five consecutive games in a major European league last October. Reims were eventually relegated, however, after they finished 16th and lost in the promotion-relegation playoff. Nakamura was also absent from Reims' preseason tour of Japan through Aug. 2, in which they lost to J-League second-division club Montedio Yamagata 1-0 and top-tier side Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 before beating J1 Gamba Osaka 2-1. Back in May, Nakamura told Kyodo News he was determined to "survive" the battle to make the Japan squad for next summer's World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United Sates. "It's the stage I've been dreaming of since I was little. What I have in front of me now really is the biggest chance," he said. "I want to score at the World Cup finals."
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Australia loses Charlotte Caslick ahead of Women's Rugby World Cup
Former Olympic sevens champion Charlotte Caslick has been ruled out of the Women's Rugby World Cup in England in a blow for Australia's hopes of a maiden title. Caslick, who was named sevens World Player of the Year in 2016, damaged her ankle against New Zealand last month but was included in Jo Yapp's Australia squad last week. Yapp said on Monday that Caslick's timeline to recover and be available during the World Cup pool phase had changed. "Following medical advice, the decision was made to allow her to continue on an accelerated recovery program, where she could be available as an injury replacement should we require a player later in the tournament," Yapp said in a Rugby Australia statement. "We're really disappointed to lose Charlotte so close to the World Cup. She has shown great commitment to the XVs program and Wallaroos this year." Uncapped center Manu'a Moleka has been called into the squad as a replacement. "We're really fortunate and excited that Manu'a can join us for the World Cup," Yapp added. "Manu'a has been part of the touring squad since the start of the international test season and thoroughly deserves her opportunity to join us." Australia open its tournament against Samoa in Manchester on Aug. 23 before pool matches against the United States and England.
