Australia’s quest for Women’s Asian Cup glory ended in heartbreak after Japan condemned the Matildas to a 1-0 defeat in the tournament final.
A first-half goal from Maika Hamano was all that separated the two teams in front of 74,397 spectators at Stadium Australia as Japan claimed their third Asian crown.
After cantering their way to the final, Japan was besieged by the Matildas for much of Saturday’s match, but the home team was unable to deliver a fatal blow.
Joe Montemurro’s team were more than a match for the Japanese, but they will be left kicking themselves for their inability to find the net when it mattered most.
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Captain Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler became increasingly contained as the match progressed, and the usually clinical Caitlin Foord squandered two golden opportunities in the first half.
Fowler created two brilliant chances in the opening 10 minutes, the first after just 90 seconds resulting in a Kerr shot being parried away by Ayaka Yamashita.
The goalkeeper was called into action again when Foord, following another clever move from Fowler, fired a great opportunity straight into the arms of the Japanese No. 1.
And after surviving an initial attack of Australian fighting and fire, Japan returned to the routine that has made them the dominant force in this competition and found a goal in the 16th minute.
The Matildas had done well to contain Japan’s attack, but all Hamano needed was a momentary shutdown from Alanna Kennedy and Kyra Cooney-Cross.
The forward broke loose from the edge of the box and her shot sailed past Mackenzie Arnold and into the back of the net.
Australia kept the Japanese at bay for the rest of the first half and arguably should have made it to half-time.
Foord was unable to get a shot on target when Yamashita made a mistake in defence, and the Arsenal forward wasted their best chance of the night on the stroke of half-time following a brilliant cross from Kerr.
Montemurro resisted the changes at half-time as Japan pushed for a second, with Riko Ueki, who finished with the tournament’s golden boot with six goals, deflecting a header and also forcing a save from Arnold.
Hayley Raso was brought into the mix for Montemurro, but Australia still struggled to equalize despite looking the more dangerous side.
Foord found Kaitlyn Torpey unmarked in the box with 25 minutes remaining, but the left back missed another opportunity inside the Japanese box.
Kennedy, named player of the tournament, had the best Australian chance late in the second half.
But he could only guide his header towards Yamashita as Japan claimed victory and the Matildas’ 16-year wait for a major trophy continued.
