Key posts
Raso foul hands early lead to Japan
Mina Tanaka scores for Japan within the first six minutes after a foul by Hayley Raso on Japan’s captain Yui Hasegawa saw the Matildas lose possession.
Australia 0-1 Japan, 6 minutes
Arnold mistake leads to another free kick for Japan
Cooney-Cross is forced into a foul after Mackenzie Arnold’s mistake hands the ball over to Japan’s goalscorer Mina Tanaka.
Japan’s free kick is taken short but is cleared by Katrina Gorry and Alana Kennedy.
Japan regain possession again.
Australia 0-1 Japan, 19 minutes
Kennedy defends another attempt on goal
Japan are still dominating possession early in this match. Another corner is defended well by Alana Kennedy who heads the ball over the goal.
The Matildas gain possession for a moment with Kyra Cooney-Cross driving up the pitch but it’s not long until Japan win it back.
Australia 0-1 Japan, 15 minutes
Japan have a free kick
A second foul by Raso within the first 10 minutes leads to a free kick for Japan. Hasegawa takes it but Fowler manages to clear it.
Tanaka almost takes a second goal from the Matildas but it shoots just wide of the goal. Japan are looking dominant.
Australia 0-1 Japan, 10 minutes
Raso foul hands early lead to Japan
Mina Tanaka scores for Japan within the first six minutes after a foul by Hayley Raso on Japan’s captain Yui Hasegawa saw the Matildas lose possession.
Australia 0-1 Japan, 6 minutes
Kick-off in Houston
Play is under way in Houston.
Australia kicks off and they’re attacking towards the right of your screen (if you’ve splurged on a Paramount subscription).
What are your thoughts on the Matildas new kit?
Japan starting XI
Ranked world no.8 and former World Champions, Japan’s starting XI.
1. Ayaka Yamashita, 4. Saki Kumagai, 13. Hikaru Kitagawa 3. Moeka Minami, 5. Hana Takahashi, 6. Toko Koga, 14. Yui Hasewgawa (c), 10. Fuka Nagano, 15. Aoba Fujino, 17. Maika Hamano, 11. Mina Tanaka
Japanese captain Yui Hasegawa.Credit: Getty Images
Matildas starting XI
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has gone for an unsurprising starting XI this morning and one we’ll likely see copied for the final two games of the tournament.
Mary Fowler starts off the back of a record two goal contributions in four consecutive games in the Women’s Super League where she plays for Manchester City. She is the first in the league’s history to do so.
Have your say: which team comes out on top?
Good morning
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Matildas first game in the SheBelieves Cup against world no. 8 Japan. I’m Frances Howe and I’ll be with you until the final whistle this morning.
It’s a chilly six degrees in Houston, Texas where kick off is set for 9.03 am AEDT (4.00 pm in Houston).
This is Australia’s first of three games in the invitational tournament. They will play the US and Colombia next week.
The tournament is being exclusively streamed in Australia on Paramount+.
