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Nadeshiko Japan qualified for football’s Women’s World Cup on Sunday with a 7-0 Asian Cup quarterfinal win against Thailand in Navi Mumbai, India.
The tournament is doubling as a qualifier for next year’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Supplied photo shows Mana Iwabuchi (L) of Japan vying for the ball during the women’s Asian Cup match against Thailand in Navi Mumbai, India, on Jan. 30, 2022. (Copyright AFC)(Kyodo)
Japan, ranked 13th in the world and aiming for their third straight Asian championship, opened the scoring on the first of Yuika Sugasawa’s four goals.
“Qualifying for the World Cup was our minimum target here,” said the 31-year-old, who entered as an early substitute for injured starter Mina Tanaka. “I want to do my best so we can win the semifinal and final.”
Thailand, ranked 38th in the world, had just 14 players available for the game after a rash of coronavirus infections hit the squad.
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