FUTSAL – Japan narrowly held on for a 3-2 win over Bahrain yesterday in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 for a second straight victory in Group C.
A dominant first-half performance looked to have put them in cruise control, but the two-time runners-up were rocked by a spirited fight-back from Bahrain after the break at the Hohhot Sports Centre.
Japan applied relentless pressure from the kick-off in search of an early breakthrough, with their opponents struggling for any sort of meaningful possession.
Mika Eguchi and Risa Ikadai had efforts saved before Ryo Egawa opened the scoring with a beautiful finish on six minutes, receiving Kyoya Takahshi’s pass with her left before swiveling to toe-poke the ball with her other foot into the bottom right corner.
Egawa doubled the lead within 60 seconds with another accomplished strike, popping up on the right and turning her marker superbly before lashing the ball into the far left corner.
Alanood Al Khalifa had a rare sight of goal for Bahrain as her grounder flew just wide but they fell further behind in the 11th minute to a simple corner routine.
Naomi Matsumoto’s precise delivery was met first-time by Saki Yotsui, who guided the ball into the net with her left foot.
To their credit, Bahrain emerged from the break with renewed resolve and took the game to Japan as Hessa Al Isa smashed an effort just over the bar.
Ikadai responded with a curled strike from her own half that came off the post, while Yukari Miyahara and Egawa forced saves.
Yuria Suto’s goal frame was rocked by Manar Yaqoob’s long-range strike in the 29th minute but Japan finally conceded two minutes later. Allowed to take aim from a similar distance, Yaqoob produced a thunderbolt into the top right corner to score Bahrain’s first goal in Hohhot.
Emboldened, Bahrain began to put Japan under severe pressure and their endeavour paid off when a sixth foul from their opponents in the 36th minute gave them a free shot from the second penalty spot.
Up stepped Al Isa, who smacked the ball with extreme prejudice past Suto and into the top left corner to further reduce the arrears.
The kitchen sink was thrown by the red shirts in their bid to salvage an extraordinary point, but they fell just short as a relieved Japan clung on to take the three points from a thrilling contest.
Meanwhile, the spoils were shared between Thailand and Indonesia as their encounter ended in an entertaining 0-0 draw.
There was nothing to separate the Southeast Asian pair – who drew 1-1 in their sole previous meeting in 2018 – at the Hohhot Sports Centre, which saw Thailand stay in second in Group C with four points while Indonesia picked up their first.
It was only the second time in tournament history that a match finished goalless, with Thailand also involved on that occasion in 2018 against Vietnam.
Having come into the tie off a 4-0 win against Bahrain, the Thais found Indonesia a much tougher proposition and nearly conceded after just six seconds.
A brilliant through ball from Insyafadya Salsabillah cut the defence open and found Fitri Rosdiana, who was denied by Sasiprapha Suksen’s sprawling save.
Sasiprapha then twice saved shots from Dinar Kartikasari, while Insyafadya dragged an effort wide as the Indonesians, who suffered an opening defeat to Japan, continued their storming start.
Thailand mustered a response through Jenjira Bubpha’s long-range effort that sailed wide but nearly went behind a minute later as Agnes Matulapelwa rolled the ball agonisingly past the post.
Jenjira proved to be her side’s biggest threat and she stung the palms of Sella Agustin with a grounder before a curling effort was saved.
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