Japan and Korea DPR came out on top of a hugely-competitive and intense 11-day competition to win through to next year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in London. The pair put aside vastly contrasting experiences at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to ensure a top-two finish in the six-nation competition, which concluded on Sunday. Just six weeks since a downpour of gold ticker-tape in Frankfurt heralded the beginning of their reign as world champions, Japan managed to successfully refocus their energies despite their new-found, and potentially distracting, standing as national heroines.
Korea DPR’s preparations for the qualifying tournament in Jinan, China may have taken a greatly divergent path in comparison, but it was one that nevertheless proved equally successful. The North Koreans suffered a disappointing group-stage exit at Germany 2011 with just a single point to show for their three matches. Highly successfully over the past decade in Asia, Korea DPR displayed characteristic resolve to bounce back and finish second narrowly ahead of Australia, followed by China PR, Korea Republic and Thailand. Of the 15 matches at the tournament, all, aside from those involving bottom-side Thailand, were won by a single goal, or were drawn, to once again display the depth of quality across Asia's elite women’s nations.
Champions confirm class
Despite the intensity of competition, Japan were able to provide validation of their world champions tag. An undefeated run of four wins from five was impressive, with a perfect record denied only by an injury-time Korea DPR equaliser.
Japan were able to field virtually all of their FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning squad, including adidas Golden Ball winner Homare Sawa. However, in contrast to their free-scoring displays in Germany, the Nadeshiko managed just eight goals across their five matches. Leading the charge with two goals apiece was the unlikely figure of defender Asuna Tanaka, and two-goal hero from July’s semi-final win against Sweden, Nahomi Kawasumi.
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