The first match in the two-game series had finished 0-0

Japan defeated North Korea 2-1 on Wednesday to arrive at the women’s football tournament at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The first match in the two-game series to determine one of Asia’s two qualifiers finished in a 0-0 attract on Saturday Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Japan had three clear standout players who aided book its tickets for Paris.

Hana Takahashi scored in the 26th, but it was Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita who scrambled late in the first half to stop a shot that was millimeters from crossing over the line.

Aoba Fujino put the match away with a header in the 76th to allow Japan its second.

North Korea’s Kim Hye Yong scored in the 80th, chipping the ball over guardian Yamashita as she fell off her line.

Japan had a significant part of the possession in the first half with North Korea playing the long ball and counterattack. And afterward Japan withstood North Korean pressure in the first 20 minutes of the second half as the visitors searched for the equalizer.

Takahashi gave Japan a 1-0 lead after her team had a significant part of the early possession. She tapped in a close-range shot after teammate Mina Tanaka’s header was deflected off the crossbar by North Korean goalkeeper Pak Ju Mi, the ball falling for Takahashi to score.

North Korea verged on scoring in 44th when Choe Kum alright’s shot was stopped on the line by Japanese guardian Yamashita. VAR video assistant official was not being used in the match but television replays seemed to show the entire ball had not crossed the line.

Japan won the silver medal in the 2012 Olympics but has always lost gold in the women’s tournament. North Korea last showed up in women’s football at the 2012 Olympics but has always lost a medal.