Kim Yeon-Koung (KOR) spikes against Kimura and Araki (JPN)
Korea
vs
Japan
1
-
3
Japan continued their recent dominance of Korea with a 3-1 success on Saturday night.
Japan, who had lost only one of their 12 encounters since 2003 before this Pool A match, came home 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22 in front of a 10,000 capacity crowd at Yoyogi National Stadium.
The victory was Japan's third in a row after their opening night shocker against Chinese Taipei and improved their win-loss record to 3-1, while dropping Korea to 1-3.
As expected for a match between these old regional rivals, the atmosphere inside Yoyogi was the best of the tournament so far.
Every Japanese point was greeted with the thunder of stick balloons, and every Korean point with a sigh of despair.
In the first set, Japan built up a 16-11 lead by the second TTO, thanks to some swooping winners down the middle from Shuka Oyama and slick net play from Sachiko Sugiyama, who brought up the technical break with a languid swat at the net.
Korea captain Kim Sa-Nee rattled the Japanese defence with a gentle service winner that dropped in front of libero Kaoru Sugayama, and the irrepressible Kim Yeon-Koung kept Korea in touch with her customary stylish spikes from the left wing.
Japan are now finding the consistency that plagued their opening night defeat by Chinese Taipei, and Miyuki Takahashi and Saori Kimura both dazzled the crowd with some crashing winners.
Korea replied through Han Yoo-Mi out on the left and Jung Dae-Young at the net, but Japan had too much energy and reached set point at 24-21 with an Oyama blockbuster that the Korean block could not control as it fizzed into the stands. There was a tame end to a furious first set when the Korean communication broke down at the net and the attack never materialised, 25-21.
The Koreans tightened up on Oyama in the second set, and put her under pressure on every spike.
This led to some block points and attacking errors, and Korea were able to reach the first technical break ahead by three at 8-5. The left-handed Hwang Youn-Joo began to make her presence felt on the Korean right flank, carving through the Japanese block, and a searing winner from Han Yoo-Mi took the teams to the TTO.
The Koreans had settled down now and were matching Japan in every department. Jung and Kim Se-Young were causing problems at the net, and when a Kim Yeon-Koung service ace and crisp Han Yoo-Mi winner extended their advantage to 14-10, Japan needed a breather to steady the ship.
Trailing 20-18, Japan called their second TO, but could not halt the Korean flow. Agile ground defence from Nam Jie-Youn, together with fluid attacking moves, pushed Korea out in front 23-20, and a service error from Kimura gave Korea set point at 24-20. They converted on their second attempt, thanks to the outstanding Han Yoo-Mi on the left, 25-21 and 1-1.
After the 10-minute entertainment break, the teams continued their high-paced battle immediately on resumption of play. Han Yoo-Mi could do nothing wrong for Korea, battering through the block with a series of clean winners and then pushing one over left-handed into space to give Korea the lead 8-7 at the first technical break.
Japan needed to lift their game, and did so. Oyama's attacks from the back court were more effective than her wing spiking, and the blocking of Erika Araki helped Japan lead 12-10 and force a Korea TO. Despite the close attentions of the Korean blockers, Takahashi continued to find a way through, and brought up the second TTO with Japan holding a four-point but far from comfortable lead, 16-12.
When Korea were in trouble they simply turned to Han Yoo-Mi, who had a golden touch on this night, and a flashing ace on her jump serve from southpaw Hwang took Korea to within a point at 16-15.
Kimura at the net brought up set point, 24-19, but Korea saved two before a brilliant dig by Yoshie Takeshita on Han Yoo-Mi was followed by a cross-court sizzler from Takahashi, 25-21.
Korea fought back in the fourth set, with Kim Yeon-Koung almost unplayable for the Japanese defence. An attacking error by Oyama enabled Korea to lead 16-11 at the second technical break, and a tie-break was looming.
However, Sugiyama turned the tide with some excellent blocking on Kim Yeon-Koung and Han Yoo-Mi, and Japan pulled level 18-18.
Araki came up with some crucial winners late on. Kim spiked long to give Japan match point at 24-22, and a Takeshita serve eluded Nam to see Japan home 25-22 and 3-1.
