'Shellshocked' Aussies thrashed by Japan in horror start to SheBelieves Cup
Updated . First published
SCORES
FULL TIME: Matildas 0 v Japan 4 (Mina Tanaka 2, Maika Hamano, Moeka Minami goals)
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Match report
The Matildas have been taught a "lesson" by Japan a year out from a potential Asian Cup meeting with the women's football powerhouse.
The Aussies were thumped 4-0 in what was their worst ever defeat to Japan and a disastrous debut at the SheBelieves Cup on Friday morning.
Japan had 18 shots at goal to Australia's one - the Matildas' lone strike came late in the piece when Charlotte Grant hit the woodwork.
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Hayley Raso of Australia argue. Getty
Players react to loss
Aussie veteran Ellie Carpenter reacts to the record loss to Japan.
"Obviously very disappointed... Japan are a great team, clinical, technical," she says.
"It was a bad performance from us and we need to regroup, refocus."
Coach Tom Sermanni says the Matildas were taught a "less" by a "very good" Japan.
Matildas torn up for horror show
Former Australian players Andy Harper and Grace Gill are not kind to the Matildas following that awful result and performance.
"Disappointing doesn't really come close to covering it," Harper says.
"It's a morning which did not work. The plan was to pick the most stable, the strongest, most experienced combination (of players)... that's my interpretation.
"By picking that team what you've not done is invest in some other alternative combinations, individuals. And that's fine, you make that decision, you run with it.
"The decision they went with has just not worked today. Very, very poor."
One-time Matildas player Gill is surprise the Aussies were so bad.
"We just saw a chasm between the two teams," she says.
"We saw a classy Japan - they were organised, they were disciplined, they knew their roles both in attack and in defence.
"We saw a really poor performance for the Matildas. Those two two things came together in a perfect storm."
Meantime, images reveal Hayley Raso got in a tiff with Kyra Cooney-Cross following a Japan goal.
Aussies in all sorts.
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Hayley Raso of Australia argue. Getty
Alarming stats
Not a pretty picture for the Matildas.
Paramount Pictures
FULL TIME: Record loss for Matildas
Australia suffers its worst ever loss to Japan, going down 4-0 in the SheBelieves Cup opener.
"It is not a wake up call, because we know how good Japan are," Robbie Thompson says.
"But it is a reminder... you can't afford to take your eyes off the ball."
The Aussies next face USA on Monday morning.
Tameka Yallop of Australia and Saki Kumagai of Japan battle for the ball. Getty
Arnold almost gives up a howler
MacKenzie Arnold gets very, very lucky.
She makes an absolute mess of passing out of her own goal, it goes straight to a rival but luckily Japan can't put it away.
Soon after Charlotte Grant almost scores for the Aussies but hits the post.
Reaction to new kits
Some early reaction to the new Football Australia kits.
There is no gold on them - what do you think?
Another veteran off - JAPAN SCORE
Katrina Gorry joins her fellow Matildas stars on trhe bench.
Fellow veteran Emily van Egmond comes on.
And as we type this Japan scores a fourth - 4-0 is their biggest ever lead over Australia.
Moeka Minami heads a cross past the goalie.
Disaster.
Aussies getting nothing from the ref
Hayley Raso is smashed over the sideline but the referee doesn't do anything about it.
The Aussie can only smile and shake her head in disbelief.
Nothing going their way.
Hayley Raso was smashed over the sideline. Paramount Pictures
