Japan Cruises Past Canada 3-0 In Final 2023 SheBelieves Cup Match For Both Teams
Kiko Seike, Yui Hasegawa and Jun Endo Score for Japan
FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 22, 2023) - The Japan Women’s National Team capped off its run at the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with its first victory of the competition, a dominating 3-0 win against Canada. First half goals from Kiko Seike, Yui Hasegawa and a second half score Jun Endo provided the difference as the world’s No. 9-ranked team took down No. 6.
The match began with Canada carrying play through the opening 10 minutes against a heavily rotated Japan squad that featured five changes from the starting XI that faced the USA on Feb. 19. For its part, Canada also made five changes from the side that beat Brazil, 2-0, at the weekend.
After a Cloé Lacasse shot – one of only three Canada was able to muster in the game against Japan’s well-organized defense – rolled wide, Japan began to exude control and capitalized in the 26th minute. Seike advanced from her position at right back to slip home Rikako Kobayashi’s pass, colliding with Canada goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo, who was injured in the process and had to leave the match.
Japan added to its advantage shortly before the break when Angel City FC midfielder Jun Endo was brought down by Kadeisha Buchanan in the penalty box after she’d beaten the Canadian defender with a fine bit of skill and a nutmeg along the left endline. Hasegawa converted the spot kick in the 41st minute to give Japan a 2-0 lead that it nearly extended just before the half time whistle sounded.
In the second half, Japan continued the dominance it had established midway through the opening frame, and ended up out-shooting Canada, 13-3.
With control of the match in hand, the skillful Japan strung together yet another lovely passing sequence, playing out from the back in a move that broke Endo into open space in the 77th minute. With only goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to beat, Endo blasted her shot inside the left post to put Japan out of sight with a 3-0 lead that proved to be the final margin of victory.
Goalscoring Rundown:
JPN – Kiko Seike (Rikako Kobayashi), 26th minute – A long ball down the right wing was chased down by Kobayashi. She quickly slid a pass behind the Canada defense for the run of Seike, who slipped it beneath the onrushing ‘keeper. CAN 0, JPN 1
JPN – Yui Hasegawa (Penalty Kick), 41st minute – Endo won a PK in the 40th minute when she was brought down after making a silky move that nutmegged Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan in the left side of the box. Hasegawa then calmly dispatched the spot kick into the right side netting out of the reach of the goalkeeper. CAN 0, JPN 2
JPN – Jun Endo, (Hinata Miyazawa), 77th minute – A flowing move from Japan began along its defensive line before moving up the right side, and through midfield where an excellent dummy from Mana Iwabuchi drew in the Canadian defenders while the ball rolled to Miyazawa. The young starlet evaded a defender before playing the ball through for Endo to run onto and eventually finish with a powerful shot inside the left post. CAN 0, JPN 3 FINAL
- 2023 Shebelieves cup MATCH REPORT -
Match: Canada Women’s National Team vs. Japan Women’s National Team
Date: February 22, 2023
Competition: 2023 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas
Attendance: 6,975
Kickoff: 3:05 p.m. local (4:05 p.m. ET)
Weather: 77 degrees, windy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CAN 0 0 0
JPN 2 1 3
JPN – Kiko Seike (Rikako Kobayashi) 26th minute
JPN – Yui Hasegawa (Penalty Kick) 41
JPN – Jun Endo (Hinata Miyazawa) 77
Lineups:
CAN: 18-Sabrina D'Angelo (1-Kailen Sheridan, 30); 21-Jade Rose (6-Gabby Carle, 46), 3-Kadeisha Buchanan, 17-Jessie Fleming (11-Clarissa Larisey, 68), 10-Ashley Lawrence; 15-Evelyne Viens (9-Jordyn Huitema, 46), 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 7-Julia Grosso, 20-Cloé Lacasse (13-Sophie Schmidt, 55); 12-Christine Sinclair (Capt.), 16-Janine Beckie (19-Adriana Leon, 46)
Substitutions Not Used: 22-Lysianne Proulx, 2-Allysha Chapman, 5-Quinn, 8-Simi Awujo, 14-Vanessa Gilles, 23-Jenna Hellstrom
Head coach: Bev Priestman
JPN: 1-Ayaka Yamashita; 5-Shiori Miyake (15-Hina Sugita, 78), 3-Moeka Minami, 4-Saki Kumagai (Capt.), 13-Jun Endo, 16-Honoka Hayashi (20-Aoba Fujino, 46); 22-Kiko Seike (2-Risa Shimizu, 46), 8-Fuka Nagano (6-Rion Ishikawa, 89), 7-Hinata Miyazawa; 14-Yui Hasegawa, 11-Rikako Kobayashi (10-Mana Iwabuchi, 46)
Substitutions Not Used: 17-Shu Ohba, 18-Momoko Tanaka, 21-Chika Hirao, 9-Riko Ueki, 12-Ruka Norimatsu, 19-Saori Takarada, 23-Maika Hamano
Head coach: Futoshi Ikeda
Stats Summary: CAN / JPN
Shots: 3 / 13
Shots on Goal: 1 / 5
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 3 / 5
Fouls: 8 / 7
Offside: 2 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Ashley Lawrence (Caution) 53rd minute
JPN – Moeka Minami (Caution) 84
Officials:
Referee: Danielle Chesky (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Tiff Turpin (USA)
4th Official: Katja Koroleva (USA)