Japan's women secured victory over Chinese Taipei in the Asian Games on Saturday, winning 3-0 at the home venue. The hosts moved to the top of the group with six points from two matches, while their opponents remain second after three games.
It was a convincing result for the home side, who had already beaten Chinese Taipei 3-0 back in August. They came into this fixture with momentum after victories over Indonesia and Nepal, though they have lost once to Thailand this tournament. To be fair, the visitors have shown they can compete, winning against Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan in their previous outings.
Chinese Taipei arrived with a more difficult record, having suffered defeat to Thailand in their most recent match. They have not won since their victory over Kyrgyzstan, and this result extends that run. By then they must have been needing the points badly, but they found no answer here.
The victory puts Japan firmly in control of their group. They now sit one place above Chinese Taipei on goal difference, though both teams carry six points. The hosts have played fewer games, which gives them a clearer path forward.
Chinese Taipei's campaign is not over, but they face a tougher road from here. They have one more match to play compared to Japan, and the pressure will mount if they cannot turn things around. The gap between them at the top remains tight, but the momentum has shifted.
