Japan wins the Women’s Asian Cup, beating Australia 1-0 on Hamano’s early strike‎

Maika Hamano’s first-half strike propelled Japan to the Women’s Asian Cup title with a 1-0 win over Australia on Saturday at Sydney's Stadium Australia. The 21-year-old Hamano, on loan at Tottenham from Chelsea, took a pass from the left with her back to goal, turned and launched a powerful strike from outside the area in the 17th minute. The Australians applied all the pressure in the last 10 minutes pressing for an equalizer but were continually denied by Japan's defense, including Alanna Kennedy's close-range header with two minutes left in regulation.