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62 mins: A couple more chances for Japan with the first the most worrying as Tanaka shifts from left to right before her strike from the edge of the box is blocked by Kennedy.
59 mins: Japan pull their first changes with Fuka Nagano and Aobo Fukjino making way for Hinata Miyazawa and Riko Ueki.
57 mins: Tameka Yallop tears off her gloves and comes from the field limping on her right leg after being brought down from behind in the midfield by Maika Hamano. That could’ve been a yellow card to the Japan goalscorer and the Matildas veteran looks displeased. She might be done for the day.
54 mins: The Matildas have lifted their intensity and are diving into their tackles with greater intent since the break. The more agricultural approach has not quite rattled the Japan ballers in their midfield just yet but it is at least the sort of response you’d hope for when being outplayed and falling behind three-nil not much beyond half-time.
GOAL! Japan 3 -0 Australia (Hamano '52)
Mina Tanaka turns provider as sublime passing from Japan picks apart the Australia defence and their No 11 fires in a low cross for Maika Hamano to tap home. It looked simple in the end, but that was all made possible by intricate passing around and into the penalty box.
49 mins: Japan take no time to fire the ball forward where Mina Tanaka finds plenty of space heading into the penalty box in the right side. The powerful strike beats Mackenzie Arnold but continues its flight over the crossbar.
46 mins: The Matildas come out firing as Hayley Raso surges down the right. Mary Fowler and Tameka Yallop reach the box in time for the cross to land but can’t a head to the ball and the opportunity fades. Positive signs, at least.
And just before we get under way for the second half in Houston, 4boat has been in touch on Bluesky to nail where it all went wrong for the Matildas in the first half.
“I am 100% blaming the new strip, pretty though it is”.
The Matildas bench is packed with hopes for the future from defenders Charli Grant and Natasha Prior, to forwards Holly McNamara and Daniela Galic. But interim coach Tom Sermanni resists what must have been an urge to shake up the Matildas lineup with both sides sending out the same XI for the start of the second half. Japan to kick off.
Ever-passionate Australian football pundit Andy Harper is not holding back on Paramount+. He labels the Matildas’ first-half performance as “beyond unacceptable” and it is hard to disagree. Japan have had seven shots with three on target while the Matildas are yet to test Ayaka Yamashita’s goal.
What changes, if any, should Tom Sermanni swing at the break?
Half-time: Japan 2-0 Australia
A hugely impressive performance from the Matildas’ Asian rivals as Japan take a two-nil lead into the break off the back of a brace from Mina Tanaka. Japan were able to control the ball on the ground with neat and positive possession, and were perhaps surprisingly also the more threatening when it was in the air.
Japan have taken the lead with a pair of relatively soft goals, the first when the defence failed to close in on Tanaka in the box, the second following a worrying collision between centre-backs Hunt and Kennedy presented the Japan No 11 with a near-open goal.
Not sure if Tom Sermanni is one to deliver a stern word at half-time, but the Matildas could do with a rocket in Houston.
Send me your thoughts, because I need a quick breather.
44 mins: A rare moment of excitement for the Matildas as Raso bursts down the right with an open forward-half in front of her. But before the attacker can get truly motoring the Japan defence close in and cut off the threat. The Matildas are still to have a shot this half with one minute plus the same in added time to come.
41 mins: The Matildas hoped to take advantage of their height against Japan but are yet to threaten from any of their few set pieces. A long free kick into the box is easily cleared by Japan.
38 mins: A moment of quiet with no sign of a Matildas storm approaching. Raso is fortunate to dodge a cautionary card after a clumsy tackle.
35 mins: Japan extend their lead just as the Matildas were showing signs that they were working their way into the game. The goal conceded has under stably struck a blow mentally as well as on the scoreboard, as the Matildas give the ball away in midfield with heavy touches and loose passes.
Goal! Japan 2-0 Australia (Tanaka '33)
Japan have been able to create several opportunities out of nothing and this time they make the Matildas pay. A hopeful long ball into the box is enough to spark confusion and panic among the Matildas central defence as Hunt and Kennedy collide and Mina Tanaka taps past Arnold for a brace. And so the inquiry begins.
29 mins: Caitlin Foord fires into the bottom corner after a sublime through-ball from Cooney-Cross, but the flag was raised before the shot was even away. The Matildas have their first corner of the match soon after but can’t make the most of their height advantage this time.
26 mins: Another close call from the Matildas. Another that has come with next to no warning. A cross into the box came with little threat with Kennedy and Carpenter in a two on one. Mina Tanaka squeezes between the Matildas pair to get her head to the ball as it evades keeper Arnold and clatters into the crossbar.
24 mins: The Matildas are done with trying work their way out the back through Japan’s intense press and go over the top. Route 1 allows the ball to find Fowler in the middle of the pitch with teammates streaming forward but a pass to an open Tameka Yallop is off target and the hopes quickly fade.
21 mins: The Matildas start finding some joy down the right as Hayley Raso becomes more prominent. A firm pass to Mary Fowler at the top of the penalty box almost unleashes the forward but the Japan defence get a foot in to cut it off just in time.
19 mins: Finally signs that the Matildas are settling with an extended period spent in their attacking half. They are still searching for a way to get the in-form Mary Fowler involved though.
17 mins: Kyra Cooney-Cross is shown the first yellow card of the match but the fault was at Alanna Kennedy’s feet after a poor first touch created something out of nothing for Japan.
15 mins: A small opening for the Matildas through the middle is shut down as the Japan defenders swarm on Caitlin Foord.
13 mins: The Matildas briefly have control but it isn’t long before Japan have the ball back and are charging forward. Maika Hamano steams into the penalty box but sends a half volley wide off a deflection. Kennedy heads the corner out, the next is a poor cross and Arnold has ball in hand.
11 mins: The Matildas look sharp in their new kit but it’s all talk at the moment as they struggle to get a foot on the ball. Japan look more comfortable with the ball and, perhaps surprisingly, more robust in the duels and at set pieces. A corner leads to a goal kick for Arnold, time for the Matildas to hold possession.
8 mins: Japan have a foot on the throat of the Matildas and are straight back on the attack. Lacklustre defence from a corner allows Tanaka to pounce on the second ball and fire in a shot from just outside the six-yard box. The ball sails wide and the Matildas can take a deep breath, but they have a problem in Houston.
Goal! Japan 1-0 Australia (Tanaka '6)
Neat passing from Japan in the build up and horrible defence from the Matildas, and just like that we have the opening goal. Mina Tanaka finishes off a barely threatening move with the most deft of touches towards the far corner as the ball trickles into the back of the net in slow motion.
5 mins: Japan settle and start to work the ball around the midfield as the Matildas sit back and wait for the attack.
3 mins: The Matildas build up slowly, giving each player a touch of the ball and taking few risks to limit turnovers against an opponent that prefer to possess the ball themselves.
1 min: The Matildas set up with Caitlin Foord in the centre of the attack, with Mary Fowler on her right and Hayley Raso assuming her typical position on the right. Fowler has done much of her damage with Manchester City drifting in of the left so it seems a smart move from coach Sermanni to ask her to reprise that role.
Kick-off
Peeeeeep! Here we go. The Matildas start with the ball and look to pick their way through the classy Japan midfield.
Sam Kerr is the big name still missing from the Matildas teamsheet as the striker continues her recovery from a torn ACL with club side Chelsea. But her national teammates are counting down the days until her return while also lending their support following Kerr’s high-profile court case in the UK.
“We hope she’s OK with her well being, obviously it has been a very challenging time for her. And secondly, we really hope her rehab journey with her knee is going well and we all can’t wait to see her back on the pitch with her club.”
Japan XI
Japan: Ayaka Yamashita (gk), Saki Kumagai, Hikaru Kitagawa, Moeka Minami, Hana Takahashi, Toko Koga, Yui Hasegawa (capt), Fuka Nagano, Aoba Fujino, Maika Hamano, Mina Tanaka.
The No 8-ranked Japan match the Matildas in naming a strong lineup with goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, skipper Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino familiar to Australia’s Mary Fowler with all regular starters for Manchester City.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni tells Paramount+ that he wants the Matildas to make a fast start in both this match and across the tournament. He adds that Mary Fowler has been looking “very good” which is understating how red-hot the Australia attacker’s form as been. The 22-year-old has six goals and six assists for Manchester City in the WSL this season, as well as a brace in the League Cup and two goals in the Champions League.
Fowler has three goals and four assists in just her last four WSL games but can she carry that form into the SheBelieves Cup and take command of the Matildas side missing star striker Sam Kerr.
The Matildas will be the first of Australia’s teams to wear the new kit with a striking green and gold chevron designed by First Nations artist Reko Rennie. The Socceroos will take their turn in a World Cup qualifier in March.
On first look, is it a yay or nay?
Matildas XI
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley (capt), Tameka Yallop, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso.
The Matildas show their intent with a familiar, near-full-strength starting lineup. Many of the younger players that interim coach Tom Sermanni has blooded during his third tenure are in the camp and can be expected to get their opportunities over the three matches of the SheBelieves Cup.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the women’s international friendly between the Matildas and Japan. This is the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup, an annual invitational tournament held in the Unites States and featuring four teams including the hosts and this year also Colombia. This is the first time that Australia and the South Americans have been invited to the tournament, while Japan are back for a fifth time.
With four high-quality sides playing three matches each across six days it promises to be a whirlwind event and the ideal launching pad for Australia to start their year. While Matildas will seek to win the tournament, they will also be out to build momentum heading towards the Women’s Asian Cup on home soil especially after a rollercoaster 2024 that ended with more lows than highs. This most important match of the series for the Matildas is arguably today’s against the No 8-ranked Japan which will be among the leading contenders at the Asian Cup in little more than a year.
Kick-off time in Houston is 4pm local / 9am AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news.
To share any comments, queries, ideas or predictions just shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social and X @martinpegan. Let’s get into it!
