Asian Games Women's Football Team: Wakabayashi Miri scores in debut, Taiwan defeats Vietnam 2:1

Misato Wakabayashi (left) scored. (Provided by Nagoya Asian Games Preparatory Committee)

[Reporter Lu Yangxuan/Comprehensive Report] The Taiwanese women's football team welcomed three naturalized players in the Nagoya Asian Games this year. Among them, Misato Wakabayashi scored in her first appearance with the national team, helping the team defeat Vietnam 2:1. After the game, she was highly praised by Belgian head coach De Wilde.

The Taiwanese team this year has three naturalized Japanese players, Misato Wakabayashi, Saohime Matsunaga, and Maho Tanaka, competing in the Asian Games. Misato Wakabayashi and Maho Tanaka both started the game with outstanding performances. In the 16th minute of the game, Maho Tanaka sent a precise through ball to assist Su Yuxuan to score, helping Taiwan score the first goal.

Central defender Miri Wakabayashi scored with a volley in the 81st minute to help the team expand the lead. However, Vietnam also scored 1:2 in the 85th minute through Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga. In the 92nd minute of stoppage time, Vietnam had another shot. Fortunately, goalkeeper Wang Yuting struck in time and blocked the opponent's single shot with her left foot. Taiwan narrowly won by 1 goal and collected 3 points.

Regarding the Vietnamese team's counterattack at the end of the game, De Wilde said that sometimes a 2:0 lead is not enough. The Vietnamese team later scored a goal and it might even lead to a 2:2 tie. He especially thanked goalkeeper Wang Yuting, "Her performance today was very crucial."

Wakabayashi Misato, who plays for the Kaohsiung Attackers of the Mulan League, scored in her debut in Taiwan. De Wilde said that Wakabayashi Misato is a very good and hard-working player. "We talked last night and hoped that she would stay calm on the court. She has good explosive power and has also played in Japan. She has played in the Women's Football League, so she has rich experience. We also specially practiced corner kick tactics so that she can go forward and fight for the top. This is why she was so happy after scoring. After the game, she came over and said "thank you" to me. I told her: "You don't need to thank me, you have to thank yourself."