On Tuesday 18 October, the U-17 Japan Women's National Team played their third group stage of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022™ at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where they faced France, the champions of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Azerbaijan 2012™. Having won two matches in a row, Japan had already qualified for the knockout stage, while France, who had drawn one and lost one, needed a win to stay in the tournament, but Japan won 2-0, to mark their third consecutive victory and advance to the quarterfinals as group leaders.

After all 21 players on their roster took the pitch in the first two matches, Japan made five changes to their starting line-up from their previous match, as TAKAOKA Mio and OKAMURA Raika were given their first start of the tournament. As coach KANO Michihisa mentioned, “We need a win that can give us momentum heading into the finals,” the team played with great aggression from the outset.

KUBOTA Mao, who received a pass from TSUJISAWA Ai, struck the first shot just 30 seconds into the game, while TANIKAWA Momoko tested her luck from distance in the second minute. The shot taken by Tsujisawa in the ninth minute was denied by the woodwork. .....

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