A woeful performance from the Matildas ended in a 4-0 thrashing by Japan as the SheBelieves Cup got under way in Houston with a one-sided game between the two Asian federation sides.
Australia, again without the injured Sam Kerr, were frail defensively and toothless in attack – they ended the 90 minutes having registered just one attempt at goal, a late Charlotte Grant shot that cannoned off the crossbar. Japan had 18 shots on goal, eight of which were on target.
Mina Tanaka grabbed a first-half brace to put Japan in the ascendency before Maika Hamano and Moeka Minami completed the rout after the break, raising major questions about Tom Sermanni’s side with a year to go before they host the Women’s Asian Cup on home soil.
More to follow.
