Australia edges Japan 1-0 to reach Women's Asian Cup final
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Australian forward Kathryn Gill scored the only goal in the AFC Women's Asian Cup semifinal here on Thursday to help her team edge Japan 1-0 to reach the final.
Australia have seized the berth of the FIFA Women's World Cup next June in Germany, as the top-three finishers of the Asian Cup will qualify.
In the sun-drenched Chengdu Sports Centre, Gill pounced on a loose ball to score in the last seconds of the first half when Japan's goalkeeper Kaihori Ayumi failed to collect the ball in the box .
East Asian champions Japan may blame their bad luck as they took control of the field in most time and launched several threatening attacks.
Japan missed their best chance before the break as Kumagai Saki's powerful shot on Miyama Aya's corner hit the far post. Midfielder Nagasato Yuki pounced on the loose ball but missed the target again as the ball flew over the crossbar.
Japan continued the aggressive style in the second half but squandered a scoring chance in the 70th minute when Kinga Yukari's surpurb shot rattled the crosscar, five minutes before Miyama Aya's low shot was rejected by Australia's goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri.
Australia could have extended their lead in the injury time when midfielder Teigen Allen shot wide from a tight angle on Collette Mccallum's fine cross.
Japan still have a chance to book the World Cup ticket as they will fight for the third-place with the other semifinal losers on Sunday.
