By Tom Bennett in Tokyo
SUMMARY
Arsenal Ladies were defeated 2-0 by Brazilian side Sao Jose in the final of the International Women’s Club Championship in Tokyo.
The result was a disappointing end to what was a successful 10-day visit to Japan for the Gunners.
Arsenal were stung by an early goal from Rosana, who drilled a low shot into the corner after four minutes.
Pedro Martinez Losa's side rallied and had chances to come back into the game. Lianne Sanderson forced a good save from the keeper before the break and Danielle Carter struck the bar early in the second half.
However, a Sao Jose penalty on 71 minutes took the game beyond the Gunners.
SETTING THE SCENE
Losa went with the same team that defeated Okayama Yunogo Belle 2-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final. Sanderson moved from midfield to spearhead the attack, with Carter dropping back to play on the right flank.
Opponents Sao Jose reached the final with a 1-0 win over hometown favourites Urawa Reds. A quick and physically strong side, the South American champions' starting XI contained five Brazil internationals.
A crowd of 1,365 watched the game at the Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium, with the Gunners once again enjoying fantastic support.
FIRST HALF
Things got off to a bad start for Arsenal.
Four minutes into the game Sao Jose worked the ball down the right-hand side, finding Rosana in the middle. The forward hit her shot beyond Siobhan Chamberlain’s dive and into the corner of the net.
Buoyed by their start, the Brazilian side pushed forward and it would have been 2-0 before the quarter-hour mark but for a fine reaction save from Chamberlain.
Arsenal grew into the game as the half went on.
Despite enjoying the majority of the ball though, Losa’s team struggled for clear-cut chances against a disciplined Sao Jose side.
A powerful strike from Sanderson on 45 minutes, well saved by Suntaque, was their best effort of the half.
SECOND HALF
The Gunners came out for the second period with a renewed sense of purpose, and quickly took the game to Sao Jose.
Carter hit the bar on 51 minutes, with Ohno and Niamh Fahey also going close before the hour mark.
Sao Jose posed a constant threat on the counter-attack however and, as Arsenal pressed for an equaliser, a quick break saw the Brazilians double their lead from the penalty spot. Chamberlain was adjudged to have fouled, and Giovania converted her kick to make it 2-0 after 71 minutes.
Arsenal pushed again and went close to getting one back. Second-half substitute Caroline Weir curled a long-range free-kick just past the post and Christie Murray thought she had won a penalty in the final moments.
It was not to be though, and Sao Jose saw the game out to win the tournament.
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