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Japan's Azusa Iwashimizu, center, scores a goal during their AFC Women's Asian Cup final soccer match at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Sunday, May 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam >> Azusa Iwashimizu’s 27th-minute goal gave Japan a 1-0 win over defending champion Australia in the final of the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday.
Third-ranked Japan won its maiden title after four previous final appearances, becoming the first country to hold both the Asian and World Cup titles at the same time.
Earlier, in the match for third place, striker Li Yang struck in the dying minutes to help eight-time champion China beat South Korea 2-1.
Park Eun-sun’s own goal in the second minute put China ahead before Yoo Young-ah restored parity for South Korea.
All four semifinalists as well as fifth-place Thailand have qualified for next year’s World Cup in Canada.
