Arsenal forward Mana Iwabuchi was again on target for Japan as they defeated Mexico 5-1 in an international friendly in Tochigi this morning.
The player scored a brace as Nadeshiko defeated Ukraine in their first international friendly of the current window on Thursday and she followed that up with another strike for her country this morning.
Iwabuchi broke the deadlock for Japan after 36 minutes at the Kanseki Stadium when she picked up a pass on the left before darting towards goal, beating the final defender and rifling the ball into the far corner of the Mexican net.
The forward went on to create two further goals for Japan before being substituted 19 minutes from time. She created the chance for Mina Tanaka to score straight after half-time before Mexico pulled a goal back through Alison González. Iwabuchi then set up Yuki Momiki as Japan re-established their two-goal lead.
Following Iwabuchi’s departure in the 71st minute, Japan netted two further goals. Substitute Momoka Kinoshita’s goal made it 4-1 to Asaka Takakura’s side 17 minutes from time before Jun Endo, the player who had replaced Iwabuchi, scored the fifth for Japan in the 87th minute.
Japan could now schedule one more round of practice matches before they host the Women’s Football Tournament at the Olympic Games.
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