Japan Smash India 11-0 to Enter Afc Women’s Asian Cup Quarterfinals
Japan hammered India 11-0 to enter the quarterfinals of the 2026 afc women’s asian cup, a result that cements their top spot in Group C and a +13 goal difference. Saturday at 9: 00 p. m. ET, the rout left India with a -13 goal difference and slim hopes of progressing.
Afc Women’s Asian Cup: Japan secure top spot with +13 goal difference
Japan now sit on an unsurpassable six points from two games, with a tournament goal difference of +13 after the 11-0 win. Chinese Taipei and Vietnam occupy second and third on three points each on head-to-head, and India dropped to a negative 13 goal differential following the loss.
Miyazawa and Ueki Complete Hat-Tricks, Seike Adds Brace
Hinata Miyazawa scored a first-half hat-trick and substitute Riko Ueki added a second-half hat-trick; Kiko Seike contributed a brace while Yuzuki Yamamoto, Yui Hasegawa and Maya Hijikata each found the net. Seike converted a penalty on the stroke of first-half injury time to make it 5-0 at the break.
Match Statistics Show Japan’s Overwhelming Control
Japan outshot India 35-0, with 16 of those 35 shots on target, held 80% possession and completed 613 passes to India’s 161. Reported match data placed 65% of the action in India’s defensive third while Japan’s defensive third saw just 3. 6% of play, underscoring the one-sided nature of the game.
The scoring sequence began early when Yamamoto opened the floodgates in the fourth minute, cutting in and curling a left-footed finish into the top corner. Hasegawa doubled the lead after a Yamamoto cut-in set her up, and Miyazawa added goals from set-piece assists later in the half, one created by Mina Tanaka and another created by Hasegawa.
At halftime manager Nils Nielsen made three changes, and within a minute of the second half Hijikata’s delivery was flicked on by Ueki for a goal. Ueki then scored again when a shot deflected over India’s keeper, and Seike added Japan’s eighth after running onto a low cross from Hijikata. Hijikata later nodded home from a Yamamoto cross, Ueki completed her hat-trick at the near post, and Miyazawa finished Japan’s 11th from a low Ueki cross.
Japan’s 11-goal margin was described as a statement performance following a narrower 2-0 victory in their opener against Chinese Taipei, with this result emphasizing their scoring depth and attacking fluidity. The Nadeshiko finished with 16 shots on target and a dominant share of possession that translated into relentless pressure in India’s final third.
India now face a crucial match against Chinese Taipei next Tuesday at 7: 00 p. m. ET; they must produce a markedly improved result to retain any hope of advancing as one of the best third-placed finishers. More details on quarterfinal opponents will follow once group play concludes.
