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70 mins: Australia still on the front foot. Foord almost wriggles free. Raso is busy. Carpenter gets forward on the right. Nothing clear materialises.
68 mins: Torpey! Australia with some rare slow possession. The initial ball to the feet of Kerr is intercepted but Japan make a mess of the clearance. Torpey wins it back, feeds Foord on the left, then hares into the box. The cross finds her on the full but she gets her legs in a tangle and the volley dribbles harmlessly into the keeper’s gloves.
66 mins: Raso comes straight to the right wing, shifting Fowler into a No 10 position. That is Australia’s golden generation front four. If they can’t do it, can anyone?
64 mins: Fowler – the Australian with the most composure and vision in possession tonight – builds down the right. Into the space on the left goes the ball then over it’s swung to the far post but Carpenter gets to it fractionally after it’s gone out of play.
Time for Australia’s first substitution, and it’s the speed of Raso for the tenacity of Gorry.
63 mins: Japan threaten again after Wheatley is dispossessed coming out of defence but the Matildas have enough bodies and enough desperation to deny a clear shooting opportunity.
62 mins: Cooney-Cross is in the thick of the action again, dealing with the corner in the air then running it away from danger, drawing a valuable foul.
60 mins: Cooney-Cross tries the spectacular from long long range but she doesn’t get enough purchase on it. Japan go straight down the other end and earn a corner.
58 mins: Kitagawa, Hamano, and Nagano have linked superbly time and again down Japan’s left. Carpenter has had her hands full all evening dealing with the threat and barely had chance to rampage forward herself.
56 mins: Ueki should score again! Following a turnover Hamano feeds through an inch perfect pass for the striker to run onto without breaking stride, but from 10 yards out she belts her left-footed effort straight at Arnold!
And she’s immediately hooked afterwards, replaced by Matsukubo in the first substitution of the night.
55 mins: Japan spread play right to left, forward to back, for a couple of minutes, before threatening to raid down the left until an offside flag comes to Australia’s rescue.
53 mins: It should be 2-0! Ueki should seal the golden boot with a free header form six yards out after great work down the left and a beautiful cross from Kitagawa, but the effort is wide of Arnold’s near post.
52 mins: Catley has to swivel and hook clear an early cross from the left. Japan appear to have weathered that early storm and are back into their rhythm, stroking the ball around with ease.
52 mins: Japan win a second ball contest in midfield that sees Kerr sprawling, much to the displeasure of the crowd. They try to link up through the lines but Australia have the bit between their teeth early in this half.
50 mins: Now the Matildas build down the left with Torpey and Foord busy. The latter does well to keep play alive as possession is recycled through the middle until the ball is at the feet of Gorry to hook a snapshot that’s blocked off the boot. Australia with a concerted spell of pressure.
48 mins: Carpenter raids down the right, finds Fowler on the overlap, but the resulting cross is headed away. Australia come back again and find Kerr in the penalty area but she’s outnumbered and can’t fashion a shooting opportunity.
46 mins: Japan are immediately on the front foot but Carpenter bullies Kitagawa off the ball to snuff out the danger. Then just like the first half Australia send the ball into the channel for Kerr to chase, which she does effectively, but there’s nobody in the box to pick up the pieces of her scuffed cross.
The teams are back out for the second half. Japan are 45 minutes away from a dominant Asian Cup triumph.
“You’ve neglected to mention which team are the bees tonight and which are the flies,” comments Andrew Disseldorp, “and is sh*t tastier than honey?”
More on that here:
Chris Paraskevas puts his manager’s hat on. “Huge tactical conundrum for BJM (Big Joe Montemurro) with Torpey having a torrid first half and Carpenter often caught upfield out of position down the right.
Moving Steph Catley to centre-back to accomodate for a lack of pace in that area is logical: what is illogical is asking a decence with three speedsters (Carpenter, Torpey, Catley) to sit ridiculously deep against a midfield that thrive off time and space.
The sight of Fowler making sliding, last ditch tackles at right back should set alarm bells ringing amongst the coaching staff: this just isn’t clicking.
My suggestion? Move Kennedy into defence, Catley to full back and bring on Van Egmond’s for a touch of calm to the midfield.”
And on BJM’s stressed uncle look: “I feel you’ve missed a trick on Period 3 HSIE relief teacher: Mr. Montemurro. He is rocking the sideslung ID Badge, with just the lightest shades of Han Solo’s low-slung blaster. A subtle act of rebellion against the AFC? Even FIFA? It’s either that, or he looks like he runs one of those bars that sell Vodka Red Bull Buckets at the Full Moon Party in Thailand (the slung lanyard looks like a waist bag from behind).”
Kári Tulinius with the Japanese perspective. “Japan have conceded only one goal all tournament, and they’ve shown why today. That they combine that with goal threats from all over the line-up is the reason it will take something exceptional from the Matildas to win. I realize we’re a year out, but Nadeshiko must be considered one of the front runners for the World Cup, they’re that impressive.”
Agree entirely. The composure in possession is very impressive, and it’s not just possession for possession’s sake, you can see plans unfolding in real time with overlap runners and midfielders darting into the box. As Australia tire these incursions will become even more dangerous.
Phil; Withall with some half-time analysis. “Obviously the Matildas need to show a level of urgency, to push on at the opposition but I feel they need to slow the tempo of that attack. It all seems a bit too forced. Calm heads and patient probing are needed for now, over the top aggression can wait for later.”
I’m inclined to agree. I think the direct Plan A is the correct one, but it does look frantic and scattergun at times, as well as denying the midfield and defence any meaningful respite.
ShareHalf-time: Japan 1-0 Australia
The favourites lead at the break courtesy of a wonderful goal, worthy of winning any final. Australia have a mighty job on their hands but they are giving their all.
Maika Hamano celebrates scoring a goal during the Women’s Asian Cup final. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 05.58 EDT
45+2 mins: Brilliant stand up wing-play and cross from Fujino but Wheatley gets her head to it.
45+1 mins: Foord again! For the third time tonight Caitlin Foord could (should?) score. A hopeful ball is turned into something by Kerr’s industry. She squares the ball along the six-yard box where it finds Foord among a couple of blue jerseys and with her back to goal. She swivels and strikes in one swift motion but drags the effort wide.
Caitlin Foord takes a shot during the Women’s Asian Cup final. Photograph: Rick Rycroft/APShare
Updated at 06.00 EDT
45 mins: Japan do it again, slower this time, flicking and glancing and sliding the ball short distances at great speed and varying angles, keeping Australia at bay. A couple of crosses come to nought at the end of it.
43 mins: Glorious, absolutely glorious from Japan. They work the ball through the lines from back to front slickly until a dangerous cross from the right is headed away in desperation by Cooney-Cross. Miyazawa then leathers the second ball first time on the volley but straight at Arnold.
41 mins: Lovely close control from Japan to extricate themselves from the right corner in defence to the left wing in attack, before an offside flag rescues the Matildas. Japan’s technical ability is exceptional.
39 mins: Foord tries to take on the Japan defence alone down the left but can’t beat her direct opponent then fouls Takahashi in her bid to regain possession. I don’t mind that, Foord has the skill to beat a fullback with trickery and it’s clear intricate ball movement isn’t going to be Australia’s friend tonight.
38 mins: The decibels raise to signify a rare Australia attack as Foord collects a clearance and sets off – but she’s isolated. The Arsenal star recycles possession well and finds Fowler but Kennedy can’t bring the wall pass under control on the edge of the box and the opportunity ebbs away.
37 mins: Australia’s hopeful balls out of defence have turned from possible through-balls for Kerr into desperate hacks clear. Japan are bossing this.
36 mins: Japan are getting plenty of joy down their left, overlapping, overloading, and timing the pass inside or outside, confounding Australia’s defence. The latest corner is dealt with initially but Nagano looks dangerous from the follow-up until she’s crowded out. The final ball is pumped to the far post where Australia have enough bodies to shepherd the danger away.
35 mins: Another golden opportunity for Foord! She fashioned it herself, closing down the goalkeeper and intercepting the ball just inside the Japan box, but from a tight angle she lashes her shot miles wide. Australia have to make the most of those opportunities the way this hame is panning out.
Caitlin Foord misses a golden opportunity during the Women’s Asian Cup final. Photograph: Rick Rycroft/APShare
Updated at 05.55 EDT
34 mins: Japan are slowly asphyxiating Australia in the wide open spaces of Stadium Australia. The Matildas are exerting so much energy chasing blue jerseys they are increasingly stretched when they regain possession. The sporadic cheers from the crowd are from necessary defensive interventions, not slick interplay in the forward line.
32 mins: Fowler does superbly to track the overlap on the left then hook her boot into a challenge and divert the ball out for a throw. Japan reload quickly though and Miyazawa has a snapshot volley loop over the bar.
31 mins: Everything good from Australia has come from speculative balls forward or the industry of Fowler on the right. The left flank has been underserved.
30 mins: Hasegawa’s delivery is headed away by Catley and the follow up from Nagano is ballooned over the bar.
29 mins: Gorry is playing almost as an advanced spoiler, hurtling around like a Jack Russell Terrier chasing a dormouse. It’s an effective ploy, denying Japan the time they crave to build methodically from back to front. There is the occupational hazard of a foul though, and one allows Japan to build down the right, resulting in another infringement and a decent set piece opportunity.
Katrina Gorry and Hana Takahashi compete for the ball during the Women’s Asian Cup final. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPAShare
Updated at 05.53 EDT
27 mins: Another hack forward from Australia is turned into a handy long pass by Kerr’s strength. She holds up possession but the resulting cross is straight into the gloves of Yamashita.
25 mins: Kennedy flicks on a Torpey throw into the penalty area but the pullback is again hacked away by a Japanese defender. Japan’s defensive unit is operating effectively so far in broken play.
23 mins: Australia muscle the ball back in midfield then build down the right again through Fowler. Gorry, Kennedy, Catley, Foord, all get involved as play switches to the left. Foord almost wriggles free to fashion a cross but Japan hold their shape.
21 mins: Fowler and Carpenter link well on the right but the ball into Cooney-Cross is nicked away. The Matildas go long over the top and Kerr shows her turn of speed to reach it and cut back to the edge of the box but Japan head clear with Foord winding up for the volley.
Sam Kerr heads the ball during the Women’s Asian Cup final. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare
Updated at 05.51 EDT
20 mins: The first pause in proceedings as Koga receives some treatment for a shoulder injury. Montemurro uses the opportunity to get his team around him and bark some new instructions.
19 mins: Foord and Kerr hassle and harry the Japanese defence to force a turnover. Gorry whips over the early cross but there’s only Katrina Gorry – nicknamed Mini – running onto it, and she can’t get enough purchase onto her header.
18 mins: And now Ueki almost gets a free header on the penalty spot. Japan have bared their teeth in impressive fashion.
ShareGOAL! Japan 1-0 Australia (Hamano, 17)
Japan settle into their rhythm of pass and move in front of the Australian defence. The Matildas are happy to back off, inviting their opponents to stroke the ball around – until Hamano unleashes an absolute beauty from the left edge of the box! What a strike! Kennedy stepped off her and she was made to pay with an absolutely scorching curling effort that left the diving Arnold no chance.
Maika Hamano celebrates scoring as the Matildas take on Japan in the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup final at Stadium Australia. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAPShare
Updated at 05.46 EDT