Panama falls to Japan in the last test before the World Cup

The Japanese women’s football team defeated this Friday with (5-0) Panama, in a friendly match in which the Japanese were significantly superior and which served as a dress rehearsal for both teams before World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023.
The duel was played in Sendai (northeast of Japan) was fifth in the preparation program for the Panamanians, who before this commitment faced Colombia (twice), Gibraltar and Spain, before the start of a difficult group stage in which France, Jamaica and Brazil will face each other.

Japan, one of the candidates to win the World Cup and integrated into Group C (along with COsta Rica, Spain and Zambia), he arrived after five friendly matches with a record of three losses and two wins.

The Japanese came out with a defense of three center backs, just like their opponent, and with Mina Tanaka as an offensive reference. “Nadeshiko” controlled the game from the beginning, took the ball away and pressed the Panamanian team high.
The first clean chance came in the 10th minute in boots Hinata Miyazawa, who took advantage of a mistake by the Panamanian defense and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper who, after a quick exit, was able to block her shot.

Miyazawa He had another chance in a high position on the left, a minute before Panama’s goal, Yenith Bailey, d.He received medical attention on the pitch after a poor tackle after he intercepted a shot.

The dominance of “nadeshika” began to bear fruit in the 33rd minute thanks to a high shot by Shimizu from the right edge of the box that grazed the gloves of Bailey, after a great long pass from Hasegawa.
Club midfielder Manchester City, who led the game Japanhe increased the lead four minutes later with a well-aimed shot after dribbled past the defenders on an assist from Tanaka.

The Japanese team had several more chances to go into the locker room with a bigger advantage, including Tanaka’s shot against the crossbar, against Panama that she limited herself to defense and could not find a way to harm the locals.

The second half began with the same distinct dominance of the Japanese, who made two changes at halftime. Selector of Panama, Ignacio Quintanawas forced to replace Hilary Jaén due to injury in the 54th minute, giving entry to Rosario Vargas.
In the 60th minute, Japan scored two goals almost consecutively and sealed the match. First through the internship on the left Miyazawa and put Fujino in the net, and then Hasegawa with a long-range shot, with a bit of luck when his shot was deflected by a defender.

Hikaru Naomoto crashed into the woodwork with a free kick from the front, after being screened in the VAR possible penalty in the last leg. The game ended with another goal for Japan scored by Minami from a split ball in the penalty area, awarded by the referee after he also reviewed the play for possible offside.

Panama He never scored between three sticks in a match that could have ended with a higher score if not for several valuable interventions by Yenith Bailey, despite the 5 goals conceded by perhaps the most outstanding player of his team.

The previous clash between these two teams took place in April 2021 in Tokyo, with the score 7-0 in favor of the Asian team.
Panama will begin its journey in World Cup against Brazil 24. while Japan will do it sooner Zambia on the 22nd