KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The national Under 20 (U-20) women’s football squad’s hopes to qualify for the finals of the 2026 U-20 Women’s Asian Cup were dashed when they lost 0-16 to Japan in the second Group F qualifying match at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium today.
The Japanese opened up an unassailable lead in the first half, scoring seven goals through Anon Tsuda (5th, 23rd, 29th), Mao Itamura (14th, 17th, 33rd) and Asako Furuta (45+2nd) and continued the rout by adding another nine goals in the second half, courtesy of Furuta (45th, 90+3rd), So Kojima (52nd, 58th, 89th), Tsuda (60th) Sawa Tsuge (63rd) and Yuka Kurimoto (68th, 77th).
“We were just not at the right level because we had a game plan but we couldn't execute it. I think they're a much stronger team than us,” coach Cameron Ng said during the post-match media conference.
The result leaves Malaysia at the bottom of the group while Japan remain at the top with six points, followed by Iran, who beat Guam 2-0 today, also with six points.
Malaysia will play Guam in the last Group F match on Sunday.
-- BERNAMA
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