NAGASAKI – Momoko Tanikawa scored and set up another as Japan cruised past Canada 3-0 in a women’s international football friendly on Saturday.
Nadeshiko Japan, ranked eighth in the world, got their first win over non-Asian opponents since winning the SheBelieves Cup in February as Mina Tanka and Aoba Fujino also got on the scoresheet at Peace Stadium in Nagasaki Prefecture.
“We deserved to win, and we could have scored more than three,” said manager Nils Nielsen, who is preparing his team for the Asian Cup next March in Australia. “I feel we’re back on track now.”
A dominant Japan took the lead in the 43rd minute when Hana Takahashi’s right-wing cross was headed back by Tanaka for an unmarked Tanikawa to smash home, five minutes after Canada right-back Marie Levasseur had wasted a rare opportunity.
“Mina gave me a good return and I focused on keeping my eye on the ball,” the Bayern Munich attacker said. “I managed to get the ball a lot inside the box and was also intent on using our fast players out wide.”
Tanaka doubled the lead in the 51st minute after she robbed Canada keeper Kailen Sheridan and banged the ball home from a meter out.
Fujino, who hit the woodwork early in the game, got her team’s third in the 68th minute when substitute Manaka Matsukubo released Tanikawa, who cut the ball back for the Manchester City attacker to slot in.
The result saw Japan improve to nine wins, four draws and four losses against Canada.
AloJapan.com