Womens 2007 World Cup; match 9

Group A, 14/9/07 in Shanghai.

Argentina v. Japan

Argentina: R.Ferro, E.Gonzalez, C.Huber (A.Ojeda 53), G.Chavez, C.Perez, F.Mandrile, M.Quinones (E.Mendieta 61), F.Vallejos, M.Potassa (L.Manicler 77), M.Pereyra, A.Almeida.

Japan: M.Fukumoto, H.Isozaki, K.Yano (R.Utsugi 50), A.Iwashimizu, K.Ando (Y.Kinga 79), A.Miyama, T.Miyamoto, H.Sawa, T.Sakai, Y.Nagasato, S.Ohno (E.Arakawa 57).

Early Japanese pressure had the Argentinian defence at sixes and sevens and another heavy defeat looked in the offing for the South Americans. Kozue Ando went in for a corner at the near post and the ball ended up hitting the post although the last touch might have been Eva Gonzalez's.

There was nothing assured about the Argentina defence in the opening minutes but they survived and were then able to settle slightly.

On seven minutes Argentina actually managed to break out of defence and had a shot blocked but in general theirs' was a purely defensive mission.

Having conceded 11 to Germany they had decided to employ Gonzalez as a sweeper, a role she executed from a remarkably deep position.

Japan, loath to commit too many players forward, began to find it more difficult to apply pressure although you could have little real confidence about the Argentines' defensive effort at any stage.

Tomomi Miyamoto was picked out unmarked in the area by a right wing centre but her attempted volley lacked any conviction before Argentina gave the ball away in a dangerous area and almost paid the penalty.

Shinobu Ohno crossed to Yuki Nagasato whose header was narrowly wide.

Argentina won a free kick in a promising position but the delivery was awful. When they played the ball forward again immediately, however, Fabiana Vallejos took a touch before trying a half volley from the angle of the box that was well struck but too high.

With Japan struggling to make their possession count a rash challenge by Gonzalez on the edge of the area presented Aya Miyama with the opportunity of lining up a free kick but, unlike against England, her effort was blazed way over the bar.

Japan continued to struggle to create chances after the break and Analia Almeida almost caught them out on a rare Argentinian attack but after nutmegging her defender she shot wide of the far post cutting into the area from the left.

Romina Ferro, left out against Germany, had been a much more reassuring presence in the Argentinian goal but she came for a centre on 62 minutes without getting there and was relieved to see Nagasato head over.

Nagasato then created space for herself on the edge of the Argentinian box but fired her drive straight at Ferro who held on safely.

Minutes later Argentina almost created a sensation. Vallejos was able to move forward unopposed and suddenly sent in a sand wedge from way out on the right that ended up bouncing back out off the far angle of post and bar.

Japan were finally exploiting the massive space between Gonzalez and the other defenders and were finding all sorts of room down their right wing. Yukari Kinga came on as a substitute with an obvious brief to exploit this void.

She came into the penalty area totally unchallenged to drive in a blockbuster that Ferro did well to punch over and then got on the end of a deep centre from the left at the post and headed back across the face of goal.

There were no colleagues in position to put the ball home but Gonzalez was fortunate not to make contact with an attempted clearance right underneath the crossbar. The consequences would surely have been fatal.

With the game moving into injury time it looked as though Argentina would hold on for their first ever point in a World Cup finals but it was not to be.

Kinga was picked out again with no left back in sight and drilled another low shot towards goal. Ferro saved but could not hold on and Nagasato pounced to knock in the loose ball from point blank range.

There was still time for Japan to attack again and England may well end up grateful that a strong header from a left wing free kick slammed against the post rather than going in.

Although a draw would have been perfect for us a 1-0 Japan victory is by no means a disaster.

Full Time: Argentina 0 Japan 1