Ice hockey · Global
Makoto Ito’s late goal helps Japan defeat France in Olympic opener
Japan held off a final French response after breaking a third-period tie.
Source publication date:
Japan defeated France 3–2 in its first Olympic women’s hockey appearance in Milan. Makoto Ito broke a 1–1 tie with 3:30 remaining in regulation, beating Alice Philbert with a high shot after receiving the puck from Remi Koyama.
Suzuka Maeda added an empty-net goal before Gabrielle de Serres scored for France with only 13.3 seconds left. France had pulled its goalkeeper and received its first power play, but there was insufficient time to complete the comeback after the late reply.
The match was the countries’ first Olympic meeting on the women’s side. Japan welcomed maintaining patience despite Philbert’s saves, while France fell to two defeats after its opening loss against Italy and continued searching for a first victory in its Olympic debut tournament.
Sources
Check the original record.
Open the governing body or organiser’s publication for the underlying result, decision or tournament update.