Miyama receives AFC Women's Player of Year honor for third time

Nadeshiko Japan captain Aya Miyama was named the Asian Football Confederation's Women's Player of the Year on Thursday for the third time.

At the Women's World Cup in Canada, the 30-year-old scored twice and added two assists to lead Japan to the final, where it lost 5-2 to the United States.

The Okayama Yunogo Belle midfielder, who also won in 2011 and 2012, was nominated alongside her Nadeshiko teammate Rumi Utsugi and Australia's Elise Kellond-Knight. The award was originally to be announced at the AFC Awards ceremony earlier this month.

Miyama is also in contention for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year with Carli Lloyd of the United States and Celia Sasic of Germany, to be announced on Jan. 11.