{"id":7867,"date":"2019-06-10T23:02:25","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T03:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=7867"},"modified":"2019-06-11T07:03:49","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T11:03:49","slug":"argentina-get-their-first-world-cup-point-in-dour-draw-with-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=7867","title":{"rendered":"Argentina Get Their First World Cup Point in Dour Draw with Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"

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FIFA\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>Argentina secured their first point at a Women’s World Cup finals after holding Japan in a dour goalless draw at Parc des Princes.<\/p>\n

The South Americans, eliminated from the group stages at the 2003 and 2007 finals, turned in a dogged defensive display to deny Japan victory in their opening Group D game.<\/p>\n

Japan dominated both halves, but struggled to break down Argentina’s well-drilled defense.<\/p>\n

Yuika Sugasawa and Shoya Nakajima both spurned early half-chances, but otherwise Japan, for all their possession, lacked a cutting edge.<\/p>\n

Japan showed more urgency after the break and should have taken the lead when Sugasawa fired a rebound over the crossbar after Argentina goalkeeper Correa had fumbled Kumi Yokoyama’s 30-yard shot.<\/p>\n

Aya Sameshima was next to threaten for Japan, but her burst into the box was thwarted by Virginia Gomez’s sliding tackle.<\/p>\n

Japan wasted another chance soon after. Yui Hasegawa pulled her shot off target from inside the area after Hina Sugita’s clever step-over.<\/p>\n

Argentina briefly threatened when Sole Jaimes’ shot was blocked following Estefania Banini’s run and cross from the left, but the South Americans offered little going forward.<\/p>\n

Hasegawa almost broke the deadlock in stoppage time following a defensive mix-up, but her close-range effort was pushed away by goalkeeper Vanina Correa and Argentina held out to celebrate their draw.<\/p>\n

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