Arsenal forward Mana Iwabuchi netted for the third consecutive game as Japan defeated Australia 1-0 in an international friendly in Kyoto earlier today.
The 28-year-old attacker had previously scored in Japan’s recent victories over the Ukraine and Mexico and she was on target again, netting the only goal against Australia in her country’s latest warm-up match for the Olympic Games earlier today.
Japan went into their latest fixture having won on each of their last four outings. There were chances throughout for both teams but in truth, there was a lack of quality in the box with the hosts testing the visitors’ goal on just four occasions while Australia registered just a single shot on target.
After a goalless first half, the match-winning moment came nine minutes into the second period when Alanna Kennedy was harshly adjudged to have committed a hand ball inside her own box after she was hit by an attempted Japanese cross. Arsenal forward Iwabuchi stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick, slotting the ball beyond new club teammate Lydia Williams in the Australian goal.
Japan begin their participation as the host nation at this summer’s Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament with a match against Canada on 21 July. Australia face New Zealand in their tournament opener on the same date.
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