Lot of turnovers in the midfield in these first minutes: we're not completely controlling the game (yet?).
So far, it seems that Japan's coach's main priority is not to concede a goal. It reminds me a little of the first match of the previous U17 World Cup against Poland. If Nadeshiko are counting on the Kiwis getting tired, it will probably only happen at the end of the second half. If they don't score in the first half, the second half will be increasingly nervous. I see no reason why New Zealand shouldn't score a goal in this match.
I tend to favour the defender in handball situations, but if that were a Stella defender that would be handball in my opinion.
Well its a curious one... its from rebound of the body so technically its not a handball, but the handball prevented the ball from going to Japanese player.. and all this took place inside pk box. 50/50
Captain Yuna Aoki does in style. I still wonder why it took the ref so long to make the decision: maybe they were studying a possible offside position? But I don't think there was any. Even if New Zealand's player slipped, she had the arm very far from her body and she basically stopped with it a ball that could have reached one of the Japanese players at the center of the box: nothing you could condone.
Aoki and Matsuoka play for Beleza. Mone Sato has been starting for Ohmiya in the WE League. I think she has great potential, but she still needs time to grow inot her body.
On the one hand, I understand that the matches are played on training pitches with a small 500-seat grandstand for spectators—the idea is to cut costs, which makes sense in a U17 youth tournament. On the other hand, I admit that it all looks a bit bland and lacks the glitz of the World Cup. Btw. the big 30k stadium from opening game (11k in attendance) will come to play for all quaterfinals and above (plus one game in round od 16)
Well, it sure was an awkward way to concede a PK, but, as well as a player can badly miss a chance in front of the goal, one can make a blunder of a clearance in a way that deserves punishing even if it wasn't done expressely.
7 minutes of additional time: makes sense, since I guess at least 3 or 4 were spent for the VAR-check. And then there was the water-break.
Yuna Aoki took it the exact same way: she should have changed, since the GK had learned. Had you ever seen a game go to 45'+14'?
U17 WWC H.T....JPN 1-0 NZL More goals required.....Not exactly a convincing performance so far. (Did anyone see the hilarious seagull in the Korea DPR game) This referee has taken lessons on 'how to be annoying'...great PK save
Yes, she's being very pedantic with her indications for any kind of set piece happening on the pitch.
Sato Mone and Aoki Yuna are playing as CBs, not the same position in their clubs. Right FB Matsuoka looks sharp. Left FB Furukawa makes a lot of crosses. CMFs are Iida and Sunaga. Two FWs are Fukushima and Taira. Two attacking side plyers are Nakamura and Sato Manami.