Monday June 27, 2011 Group Stage: Group B Finished rewirpowerSTADION

Japan (W) 2 - 1 New Zealand (W)

  • Nagasato 6’
  • Miyama 68’
  • Hearn 12’

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  1. Women's World Cup - Japan edge New Zealand

    Women's World Cup - Japan edge New Zealand

    Japan beat New Zealand 2-1 in their Group B women's World Cup opener at the Rewirpower Stadium in Bochum. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
    • 90+4 There is the final whistle as the Finnish referee brings the game to a close. Japan certainly deserved the win but it was nowhere near as comfortable as perhaps it should have been. New Zealand acquitted themselves well and worked as hard as any side could have, but the quality of their opposition was just too much for them in the end.
    • 90+3 Sawa now running down the clock in the corner, it's only a matter of seconds now
    • 90+3 Iwabuchi somehow manages to win a free-kick in the corner as she tries to waste time, if anything she was fouling Green, shocking officiating
    • 90+2 Tanaka replaces Ando
    • 90+1 It's a free-kick for New Zealand twenty yards out after Miyama jumps unfairly with Longo, Hearn can't replicate the finish of he opponent though and she curls it over
    • 90' It really has been a thankless task for the new Zealand forwards who have been constantly asked to chase down the channels with little joy all afternoon.
    • 89' Iwabuchi is desperate to get on the score sheet, again hitting it from outside the area, this one flashes wide though as she skips in from the left-flank
    • 88' Iwabuchi has been very impressive since her introdcution and she nearly capped off her performance with a spectacular goal there attempting to lob Bindon from around thirty-five yards, it was just over though
    • 86' The effort is still 100% from the New Zealand team, but the fatigue is starting to take it's toll on the quality as passes are going astray more regularly
    • 85' The New Zealanders resorting almost exclusively to route one, they have been for the majority of the match but as they tire they seem to be doing it more and more and it isn't creating much at all
    • 82' Another chance for Japan as Ando puts in a low cross, Sawa and then Iwabuchi have guilt-edged chances to kill the game off but neither make proper contact
    • 81' Maruyama looking dangerous advances into the area from the right and cuts the ball back but Sawa can't quite get there before the ball is cleared
    • 80' Erceg looks to have pushed Maruyama over out in the left-back position, but no foul given
    • 79' New Zealand can't really string enough passes together to create any pressure, japan look fairly comfortable
    • 78' Hassett has been an absolute terrier in the middle of midfield for New Zealand, but her efforts have produced very little in the scheme of things, she is still battling hard though
    • 77' A high boot from Amber Hearn catches Iwashimizu in the face but there was no malice there, the reaction of the Japanese seemed to be what brought the booking about. Poor refereeing really.
    • 76' Ria Percvial replaced by Longo for New Zealand and Nagasato comes off with Maruyama taking her place for Japan
    • 75' New Zealand are still full of running, but they look deflated now, and some are operating at half speed
    • 74' Miyama angles a ball in from the right behind the defence with Nagasato coming onto it, she misjudges the bounce though and the chance is over
    • 73' Hoyle suffering with some cramp, but she'll be back shortly
    • 72' Iwabuchi seemed to be in on goal but her first touch let her down, she did manage to regain balance to set up Kinga who was following her in, but her effort went over the bar
    • 71' Saneshima puts Kaihori under pressure with a wayward back pass but the 'keeper does well to deal with it
    • 70' New Zealand will be hurting as it looked as if they were coming back into the game and could perhaps pinch a winner, it looks unlikely now
    • 68' GOAL FOR JAPAN!!! Miyama steps up and curls an effort right into the top right corner of the goal. The positioning of Bindon could be questioned but it wa a tremendous effort.
    • 67' Iwabuchi snakes her way past a couple of players and very nearly evades two more before Smith brings her down on the edge of the box, receiving a yellow card and giving away a free-kick
    • 66' Wilkinson is everywhere having entered the fray as she follows a through ball and nearly nicks it away from Kaihori, she is flagged off side though
    • 65' Green takes an in-swinging corner, again aimed pretty much at the 'keeper, Wilkinson is penalised for pushing Kaihori though
    • 64' Wilkinson's added energy is a real plus for New Zealand as she wins a corner following a break down the right
    • 63' Japan possibly struggling with the heat as well as they aren't holding onto the ball nearly as well as they were in the first half
    • 62' Wilkinson makes an impact immediately as she manages to wrestle the ball away from Kumagai in the area and get a shot off, but it's well wide
    • 61' Gregorius is replaced by Hannah Wilkinson, the forward had been full of running but struggled to pose much of a threat
    • 60' A dangerous free-kick from Kinga played in from the right bounces around in the box before it is eventually cleared
    • 59' The long ball is becoming painfully predictable from New Zealand. At best it pins the Japanese back a bit but what it really does is just concede possession over and over again.
    • 58' The substitute Iwabuchi controls a difficult ball beautifully on the chest and bursts down the middle, she fails to spot Kinga who is flying into acres of space on the right and she plays the wrong pass which is cut out easily
    • 57' Bindon claims another through ball and has generally looked assured, and her decision making has been good
    • 56 Substitution for Japan as Iwabuchi replaces Ohno who impressed early on but faded badly and missed a couple of chances
    • 54' The tempo has lowered, understandably in this heat, and that will suit New Zealand who will have longer on the ball and won't be rushed into the long balls so much
    • 52' Hassett concedes a free-kick in her own half but it's taken quickly and is wasted, going out for a goal-kick
    • 51' New Zealand getting more possession in the right areas though as they deliever a cross from the right which Hearn narrowly misses with her head
    • 50' It's more long ball from New Zealand which is being easily dealt with by the Japanese centre-backs
    • 49' Miyama swings in a dangerous looking free-kick left-footed from the right-flank, but Bindon does well to clear it
    • 47' Kinga appears to be a dangerous outlet down the right and reaches the byeline again, but this time is caught just offside
    • 46' Hassett battling away again pushing on from midfield but eventually is crowded out and Japan get possession back
    • 45' The youngster Bowen has been replaced by Hayler Moorwood, the Chelsea midfielder
    • 45 Second half commences
    • 45 There's the half-time whistle. It's been all Japan but New Zealand have been very efficient in converting their one and only effort on goal and go in level. If Japan can continue as they performed in the opening forty-five minutes you would expect them to prevail, but New Zealand will continue to work hard to deny them.
    • 45+1 The resulting free-kick is pumped into the box and Bindon comes off her line well to punch clear
    • 45' The first yellow card of the contest goes to the 17-year-old Katie Bowen for chopping down Ando as she burst into the New Zealand half
    • 43' Despite all the defending New Zealand are having to do, they aren't afraid to push players forward when needs be as Hearn and Gregorius always offer running when they play the ball long to them. Hasset is also more than willing to support the front two.
    • 42' Hearn causes some trouble trying to get on the end of another long ball and wins her team a corner, the delivery is aimed right underneath the bar but Kaihori is assured in taking the catch
    • 40' New Zealand finally get some possession in the opposition's half but their long balls aren't producing much, Gregorius the latest to chace a lost cause
    • 39' New Zealand desperately want the half-time whistle as Japan continue to pin them back into their own half and they really need to release some pressure
    • 38' Amber Hearn's goal was only the second in New Zealand World Cup history in their seventh game in the tournament over the years
    • 37' Miyama lines up another corner and plays it deep again, it's headed back across to Nagasato who has a free header from inside the six-yard-box but puts her header wide
    • 36' Japan aren't able to penetrate the well disciplined New Zealand team, but fatigue will become an issue in the not too distant future
    • 34' Hassett looks to take on Kumagai on the right wing but the defender does brilliantly to block her off and draw a foul
    • 33' Japan change tactic briefly and go route one which Ando very nearly got on the end of thanks to her pace, but Bindon was out just in time
    • 32' Sameshima makes a good overlap and finds herself in a good crossing position but loses control and the chance is over
    • 31' Miyama incredibly industrious on the right flank as she breaks, loses the ball and sprints back to make an excellent tackle and win possession again
    • 30' Japan enjoying over 60% of the possession at this stage and it will be sapping the energy of the New Zealanders
    • 29' The ball breaks to Ohno again but her shot is well over
    • 29' Cross from Kinga from deep should have been claimed by Bindon but it goes straight through her hands and gives Japan another corner
    • 28' Clumsy challenge from Erceg on Ando gives Japan a free-kick on the half-way line
    • 27' The ball breaks to Ohno on the right hand side of the penalty box after a cross from the left, she hits a powerful shot but it blazes over the crossbar
    • 26' The play is almost exclusively in the New Zealand half, but not too much in the final third
    • 25' Japan have already produced six shots on goal in the opening half hour, and the way they are playing I would expect plenty more to come
    • 24' Another corner for Japan, taken by Miyama and met at the back post to tee up a volley for Ando, but the shot was charged down and Bindon eventually claims the bobbling ball
    • 23' New Zealand really need to make more of the little possession they do have, Hassett had time and space in the middle of midfield there and surrendered possession far too easily
    • 22' Plenty of dangerous looking build-up on the edge of the New Zealand area, but Japan couldn't quite find a route through or produce a shot
    • 21' The previous meetings between the sides would suggest Japan will prosper, they have won all three of the past encounters, scoring ten goals and conceding just two.
    • 20' Clash of heads just inside the New Zealand half and Hoyle seems to have come off the worst in the challenge with Sakaguchi, she should be OK though
    • 19' Hearn tries to slide in Gregorius but was half a yard offside
    • 18' Acres of space for Kinga down the right which full-back Kinga burst into and crossed perfectly for Sakaguchi who just had to slot the ball into the goal from six yards, but she struck the post. Sawa then had an opportunity on the rebound but her effort was straight at Bindon. Wasted opportunities
    • 17' Shot from the edge of the area from the dangerous Ohno after a pull back from the right, but Bindon saves comfortably down to her left
    • 16' Japan have been present at all six editions of the Women's World Cup thus far, although their record at the tournament isn't great. They failed to qualify from the group stage at five of the six events, and were dumped out of the 1995 competition by the USA at the quarter-finals stage by four goals to nil.
    • 15' It's back to Japan dominating possession in the middle of midfield, but New Zealand are doing well at keeping them at bay, for now
    • 12' Japan straight back on the attack with Ando bursting into the area and ehr cross is deflected to win a corner, Bindon just about deals with the resulting delivery with a punch
    • 11' GOAL FOR NEW ZEALAND!!! It's an equaliser out of nowhere for New Zealand as Percival breaks down the right, reaching the byline and puts in an excellent deep cross to find Hearn at the back post who comfortably nods home past the stranded 'keeper
    • 10' The pace of the Japanese is frenetic and the New Zealenders are trying to get a foothold in the game
    • 8' Ohno looking to create again as she slides another pass into the danger zone but Bindon is out quickly to deny Ando
    • 6' That was the last thing New Zealand needed and are in a state of panic at the moment
    • 5' GOAL FOR JAPAN!!! Ohno wins the ball in the middle of the field and clips a perfect through ball over the heads of the New Zealand back-line. Nagasato timed her run well and chipped the onrushing goalkeeper to put Japan ahead after just five minutes.
    • 4' Hearn breaks down the inside left channel and excellent persistence sees New Zealand win their first corner, although unfortunately it ends in the same fashion as Japan's
    • 3' Disappointing centre from Miyama who sends the ball straight out of play
    • 3' The first corner of the day goes to Japan after Erceg turns a cross behind
    • 2' A frantic start from both teams even in the near thrity degree heat. Expect high energy from the Japanese throughout
    • 1' The game is underway in Bochum in scorching sunshine
    • 14.00 Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of Japan vs New Zealand in the opening encounter of Group B in the Women's World Cup.

  • Summary

    • 68' GOAL FOR JAPAN!!! Miyama steps up and curls an effort right into the top right corner of the goal. The positioning of Bindon could be questioned but it wa a tremendous effort.
    • 18' Acres of space for Kinga down the right which full-back Kinga burst into and crossed perfectly for Sakaguchi who just had to slot the ball into the goal from six yards, but she struck the post. Sawa then had an opportunity on the rebound but her effort was straight at Bindon. Wasted opportunities
    • 11' GOAL FOR NEW ZEALAND!!! It's an equaliser out of nowhere for New Zealand as Percival breaks down the right, reaching the byline and puts in an excellent deep cross to find Hearn at the back post who comfortably nods home past the stranded 'keeper
    • 5' GOAL FOR JAPAN!!! Ohno wins the ball in the middle of the field and clips a perfect through ball over the heads of the New Zealand back-line. Nagasato timed her run well and chipped the onrushing goalkeeper to put Japan ahead after just five minutes.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Japan

    Manager: Norio Sasaki

  • New Zealand

    Manager: John Herdman

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out90′ - -
      Goal - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out56′ - -
      Goal Substitution Out76′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ - -
      Substitution In76′ - -
      Substitution In56′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out76′ - -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out45′ - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out62′ - -
      Goal Yellow Card - -
      Subs
      Substitution In45′ - -
      Substitution In62′ - -
      Substitution In76′ - -

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