CHENGDU (Kyodo) Japan earned a berth to the 2011 Women's World Cup on Sunday after a 2-0 victory over hosts China in the third-place playoff of the Asian Cup.
Kozue Ando fired Japan in front on 18 minutes and veteran Homare Sawa headed in the second in the 62nd minute, leading Japan to its sixth straight World Cup appearance since the inaugural event in 1991.
"We could win today because our mental strength prevailed. It was not a matter of tactics or skills," Japan coach Norio Sasaki said. "As representatives of Asia, we aim to reach at least the last four at the World Cup."
The top three finishers in the Asian Cup qualified for the June 26-July 17 World Cup in Germany.