SYDNEY (AP) — Toko Koga headed in two goals as Japan routed Philippines 7-0 on Sunday to advance to theWomen's Asian Cupsemifinals and secure a spot in next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Women's Asian Cup Soccer Japan Philippines
The 20-year-old Tottenham defender scored in first-half stoppage time and again in the 76th minute as Japan improved its tally to 24 goals and none conceded so far in the 2026 championship.
Japan will play 2022 runner-up South Korea on Wednesday for a spot in next weekend's final.
Four years ago, Japan lost on penalties to eventual champion China in the semifinals, ending its title defense.
All the semifinalists in Australia qualify automatically for the2027 Women's World Cup. The losing quarterfinalists go into playoffs for two more guaranteed places in Brazil.
Slow start, big finish
Japan dominated possession and field position but wasn't able to score for 45 minutes against a determined Philippines defense anchored by goalkeeper Nina Meollo.
Once the first goal went in — Mina Tanaka's header from point-blank range after a scrappy scramble in the goalmouth — it started a flow for the top-ranked team in the tournament.
Three minutes later, Koga jumped to meet a corner from Honoko Hayashi and angled it into the back of the net to give Japan a 2-0 halftime lead.
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The Japanese scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to lead 4-0, with Remina Chiba sliding in with a right-foot shot from the edge of the box in the 65th from Aoba Fujino's long, floating cross and Manaka Matsukubo scoring in the 67th.
Koga scored again with a close-range header to make it 5-0 before substitutes Momoko Tanikawa and Riko Ueki added further goals in the last four minutes of regulation.
Japan, the 2014 and 2018 champion, scored atournament-leading 17 goalsin the group stage.
China beat Taiwan 2-0 in extra time in a Saturday quarterfinal set againstgeopolitical tensionsto move into a semifinal against hostSam Kerr's Australia, which beat North Korea 2-1 on Friday night.
Iran's exit
The last of the quarterfinals was played hours after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announcedanother three membersof theIranian women's soccer teamwho accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return Iran.
Initially, six players and a support staff member accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9. So far, four of those have elected to rejoin the Iran squad which has temporarily remained in Kuala Lumpur.
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