Toko Koga scored twice as Japan stayed on course for a third AFC Women’s Asian Cup title with a 7-0 win over the Philippines in Sydney on Sunday, setting up a semifinal against South Korea.
It was one-way traffic throughout, but Japan was kept at bay by Philippines goalkeeper Nina Meollo until just before halftime. Mina Tanaka broke the deadlock with a scrappy close-range header before Koga doubled the lead from a corner.
Japan accelerated after the break as Remina Chiba struck a right-footed shot in the 65th minute to make it 3-0.
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Two minutes later, Manaka Matsukubo dribbled through the defence to add a fourth before Koga scored her second with another close-range header in the 75th minute.
Momoko Tanikawa added the sixth in the 86th minute, and substitute Riko Ueki scored the seventh in the 90th to seal a dominant win for Japan, which has now scored 24 goals without reply in the tournament.
With the win, Japan booked a spot at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the Philippines will compete with the other losing quarterfinalists for two more places in playoffs on the Gold Coast.
Australia will play China in the other semifinal.
Published on Mar 15, 2026
