Women’s Asian Cup: Matildas fall 1-0 to Japan in pulsating final as silverware drought goes on

The Matilda’s Women’s Asian Cup campaign has ended in heartbreak and their quest for major tournament silverware will go on as they were beaten 1-0 by Japan in the final at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Maika Hamano’s exquisite first-half strike proved the difference between the two teams and while Australia were valiant in defeat against the world No.5 team, they will rue not being clinical in front of goal.

In front of a tournament-record crowd of 74,397, Australia threw the kitchen sink at Japan late, as only some desperate defence denied late efforts by Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy.

The loss continues the Matildas’ 16-year run without a major trophy, dating back to the 2010 Women’s Asian Cup and the players’ pain was evident at full-time, agony and despair etched onto each of their faces.

“They beat us just off one moment. I think for most of the game, we had the better chances, and definitely in the second half most of the possession, so it was just one moment and unfortunately, that’s what football’s decided on,” a despairing Sam Kerr said post-match on Paramount+.

“It’s just moments; the last few games, we’ve had the moments, and we’ve taken them, and then tonight, they just had an amazing goal. This is just part of football. It just happens like that.”

Coach Joe Montemurro, who only took over the team in June, said his side outplayed Japan, but their opponents took their chances.

“They scored a wonderful goal in the first half and we didn’t,” he told Paramount+.

“We had opportunities and they had a couple of opportunities too. It was a tight game. Apparently Japan are an amazing team, but I saw something different in the second half.

“We probably played better football in the second half, but we’re competing with the No.6, No.8 team in the world and they’re one of the best in the world, so credit to the girls and their performance. It just wasn’t our night.”

And it was a case of deja vu all over again after similar 1-0 losses to Japan in the 2014 and 2018 Asian Cup finals.

But it was also a performance Australia should be proud of as the Matildas more than matched a talented, fluid Japan side who looked dangerous every time they went forward at speed.

It was a frustrating night for Australia’s attacking stars as Kerr toiled but struggled for quality service, Foord worked hard but was guilty of not finishing her side’s best chances, while Mary Fowler enjoyed her best game of the tournament but was unable to unlock Japan’s defence.

It took just two minutes for the crowd to be lifted above their seats as Australia almost capped an excellent, patient passage of the play with a goal.

After a sustained spell of possession in the middle of the pitch, Winonah Heatley – starting at the expense of Clare Hunt – found Fowler in a wide channel and the star attacker linked up with Foord before Sam Kerr’s poke goal-ward was deflected away.

Foord was causing problems, but the final product let her down; after Fowler out-muscled a defender, she picked out the winger in space, who wedged her shot straight at Ayaka Yamashita.

Two generous chances, no goals – and the misses would prove costly in the 17th minute when Hamano, afforded a slither of space, turned and shot without hesitation.

Her gumption was rewarded, the stadium caught off-guard as her well-placed shot flew into the bottom corner to leave Mackenzie Arnold sprawling in goal.

Montemurro had moved Fowler pre-game centrally to counteract Japan’s impressive midfield.

However, even though the move was somewhat successful, it allowed Japan’s wingers — Hamano on the left, Aoba Fujino on the right — more space and the pair’s incisive movement on and off-ball, the latter in particular causing left-back Kaitlyn Torpey headaches.

Foord would have two chances before half-time to level the scores; the first was gifted to her by Yamashita, but she thrashed her shot wide from an acute angle, while the second in stoppage time saw her trickle a shot wide from Kerr’s tidy work.

It was Japan’s turn to lose their shooting boots after the break as Riko Ueki first headed wide and then shot straight at Arnold. She did not have a chance to make amends, as she was promptly withdraw for Manaka Matsukubo.

Montemurro went to his bench, taking off Katrina Gorry after another impressive midfield showing for winger Hayley Raso.

Urgency grew, led by the spirited Ellie Carpenter and Torpey bursting forward from full-back, although the latter fluffed her lines from a promising position with a tame effort gratefully accepted by Yamashita.

Japan had been at their best when preventing Australia from playing out from the back, but as the Matildas chased the game, their opponents retreated deeper into their own half.

Their defenders were at their desperate best with five minutes to go as Foord and van Egmond both had shots blocked inside the box in quick succession, before Yamashita pulled off the save of the match to deny Kennedy’s header in the final minute of regulation.