A first half goal from Aya Miyama was enough for Japan to edge China 1-0 in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2006 while in the other Group A encounter ASEAN team Vietnam defeated Chinese Taipei by the same scoreline.

Vietnam's sole goal was fired by substitute midfielder Vu Thi Huyen Linh on 71 minutes in the match which kicked off simultaneously at the Marden Stadium.

As both China and Japan had booked their berths in the last four earlier, Sunday's matches were of academic interest and went towards finalizing the group standings. Japan finished on top with nine points while China were three behind. Vietnam failed to make the cut after ending their group campaign with three points while Chinese Taipei return home without any points.

In the past the two East Asian giants have clashed 22 times, with China emerging as victors in 15 games, losing just one. Six games were drawn. The last time Japan won against China was in Tokyo in the 1997 Kirin Cup when they returned a 1-0 win.

Both teams started hunting for goals from the referee's first whistle in front of a cheering Sunday crowd at the Hindmarsh Stadium. The first shot of the match fell to teenaged Chinese star Ma Xiaoxu whose drive missed the right upright by a whisker in the fourth minute.

Another young gun-this time Japan's Yuki Nagasato-was responsible in earning the freekick which led to the only goal of the match on 18 minutes. A dip of the shoulder and a turn saw Nagasato breaking free on the right side of the box before an alarmed Chinese defender thought it fit to hack her down.

The resulting freekick was arrowed straight into the crowded penalty box by Miyuki Yanagida and even as Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Yanru was preparing to pouch it Miyama dived to reach the ball first with her head.

Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukomoto was tested several times in the last 10 minutes of the first period by Pu Wei, Liu Huana and Bi Yan but managed to keep a clean slate.

The second half saw Japan controlling the match with impeccable ball possession and short passes. Japanese defenders Hiromi Isazaki and Aya Shimokozuru kept Chinese strikers Ma Xiaoxu and Han Duan in check throughout the 45 minutes to finish the group stage with a perfect record.

Japan clash against the runners-up of Group B in the first semifinal on July 27 while China take on the Group B winners the next day in the second semifinal for a place in the final which takes place on July 30.

(the-afc.com July 24, 2006)