South Korea 1-4 Japan (Mar 18, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN Skip to main content Skip to navigation ESPN NFL NFL NBA NBA NCAAM NCAAM NCAAW NCAAW MLB MLB NHL NHL Soccer Soccer More Sports More Sports Watch Watch Fantasy Fantasy Where to Watch Search South Korea v Japan 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, Semifinals South Korea South Korea KOR 1 FT Japan Japan JPN 4 Kang Chae-Rim – 78' Riko Ueki – 15' Maika Hamano – 25' Saki Kumagai – 75' Remina Chiba – 81' Summary Report Commentary Statistics Line-Ups Japan crush South Korea to set up Women's Asian Cup final with Matildas By AAP Updated: Mar 18, 2026, 07:37 am Facebook Facebook Messenger Twitter Email Japan are through to the AFC Women's Asian Cup final in emphatic style after seeing off South Korea 4-1 in Wednesday's semifinal. AP Photo/Rick Rycroft The juggernaut of Japan has Australia in their sights after ruthlessly crushing South Korea 4-1 to qualify for the Women’s Asian Cup final. The Matildas will meet the Japanese at Sydney’s Stadium Australia on Saturday after Asian football’s superpower made light work of the South Koreans at the same venue on Wednesday evening. Nils Nielsen’s side gave a clear snapshot of why there is a gulf between Japan and the rest of the continent as they ran out to a 2-0 half-time lead in front of 17,367. Japan had 64% of possession and nine shots on target, restricting a South Korean side that drew 3-3 with the Matildas at the group stage to just three strikes. On the evidence available throughout this tournament and in Wednesday’s showing — Japan have scored 28 goals across five games — Joe Montemurro’s Matildas side will have their work cut out. Japan pressed and hurried South Korea with a brutal intensity that left the Taegeuk Ladies looking increasingly disorganised in a first half where they also had two goals chalked off by VAR. South Korea seemed to spend an eternity camped in their own half as Japan hassled them into coughing up possession and eventually the game’s first goal. Kim Shin-Ji was dispossessed inside her own box in the 16th minute and Fūka Nagano was able to square the ball for Riko Ueki to finish. Ueki leapfrogged Australia’s Alanna Kennedy in the golden boot standings with her sixth strike of the tournament. Even with an early lead, Japan didn’t take their foot off the gas and they doubled their advantage when Maika Hamano slipped the attention of two South Korean defenders on the right. Hamano drove towards goal and unleashed a shot that beat South Korean goalkeeper Kim Min-Jung at her near post. But Shin Sang Woo’s side were unable to conjure up a response when it mattered in the second half. Defender Saki Kumagai headed in a corner with a quarter of an hour left to rubber stamp victory for Japan. Kang Chae-Rim clawed one back for Korea in the 78th minute and became the only player to score against the Japanese at this tournament. But Remina Chiba quickly restored a three-goal buffer that killed off South Korean hopes and set up a showdown with the Matildas. Game Information Accor Stadium 5:00 AM , March 18, 2026 Sydney , Australia Referees : Veronika Bernatskaia AFC Women's Asian Cup News Japan continue to look unstoppable as they set up Asian Cup finale with Matildas Facing their biggest test yet at the Women's Asian Cup, Japan simply brushed aside South Korea to reach Saturday's final. Japan crush South Korea to set up Women's Asian Cup final with Matildas Japan have claimed a dominant 4-1 win over South Korea to advance into the Women's Asian Cup final, where they will meet hosts Australia. After recent 'nearlys', Women's Asian Cup in touching distance for Matildas, Montemurro After falling at the semifinal hurdle twice in the last six years, the Matildas are back in a major tournament final at last. And they want to win the Women's Asian Cup. All AFC Women's Asian Cup News Terms of Use Privacy Policy Interest-Based Ads EU Privacy Rights Cookie Policy Manage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
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