Ireland 1-2 Japan
Japan made it two wins from two in their three-match international series with Ireland in a tight contest at UCC in Cork.
The game was played at a fiery pace throughout with Japan starting the smarter and Shihori Oikawa acting as the playmaker at the back.
The Green Army got to grips with the speed of the game and the long-range passes of Zoe Wilson started to cut the Japanese midfield open.
Sarah Torrans put her side in front in the 12th minute as she slipped her marker to pick up a pinpoint pass from Lena Tice and drew the keeper from her goal before slotting the ball into an empty net calmly.
Katie Mullan nearly doubled her sides lead as she barged down the left side and sent a cross into the circle but the ball ricocheted off the post before Deirdre Duke could get to it.
Lizzie Colvin then poached the ball in midfield and swept into the circle only for Chloe Watkins to almost dink the ball past Erika Akaya.
The Green Army continued the stronger side of the second half and Anna O’Flanagan got herself free in the circle to shoot on the reverse and draw a good save from Megumi Kageyama.
Japan levelled the match in the 36th minute with a penalty-corner routine that saw Akiko Ota sweep the ball in at the back post.
But Ireland replied with a PC of their own; Wilson’s shot was saved and a goalmouth scramble saw Japan win a free out.
Mullan continued her flying form as she caused the Japanese defence continuous trouble, sending passes into the circle and across goal at will. But it was Japan who took the spoils, as another well-worked PC routine drew Ayeisha McFerran from her goal before the slip back for Natsuha Matsumoto.
Ireland had one final chance when Watkins sent a ball across the face of goal but nobody could get the vital touch.
They play the final game of the series on Saturday.
Ireland: K Mullan (Capt), S McCay, E Beatty, S Loughran, A McFerran, L Colvin, H Matthews, S Torrans, A O’Flanagan, Z Wilson, A Meeke
Subs: G O’Flanagan, Y O’Byrne, E Tice, N Carroll, G Pinder, C Watkins, D Duke
RESULTS/FIXTURES
Ireland 0-2 Japan, 4/7/18, UCC
Ireland 1-2 Japan, 6/7/18, UCC
Ireland v Japan 7/7/18, 5pm, UCC
