Australia v Japan: Matildas crash to 4-0 loss in horror start to SheBelieves Cup

The Matildas have crashed to their worst loss against fierce Asian rival Japan, failing to have a shot on target in a horror start to the SheBelieves Cup.

The Matildas have produced their worst display under the tenure of interim coach Tom Sermanni, suffering an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Japan in Houston.

In a deeply concerning result and performance ahead of next year’s AFC Asian Cup, the Matildas were thoroughly outclassed on Friday morning (AEDT) by a slick and superior Japanese outfit that could have easily won by double the margin such was the one-sided nature of the SheBelieves Cup contest.

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The Matildas, who were at full-strength apart from the ongoing absence of injured striker Sam Kerr, started slowly and never recovered in their seventh game since Sermanni was appointed interim coach following Tony Gustavsson’s departure after Australia’s disappointing Paris Olympics display last year.

Decked out in their newly designed kits, the Australians were anything but fresh, with Japan rewarded for its immediate dominance with the lead in just the sixth minute when the Matildas failed to deal with a cross from Aoba Fujino.

Australian captain Steph Catley’s clearing header only made it as far as the edge of the penalty area where an unmarked Fuka Nagano was waiting.

Katrina Gorry competes for the ball. Picture: Maria Lysaker/Getty Images

Ellie Carpenter hurls the ball back into play. Picture: Maria Lysaker/Getty Images

Nagano failed to connect properly with a volley, but teammate Mina Tanaka was quickest to react, flicking the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Tanaka had a chance five minutes later to double Japan’s lead, but her shot flew over the crossbar.

The Utah Royals attacker had another opportunity to increase Japan’s advantage in the 26th minute with a looping header that, much to Australia’s relief, hit the crossbar.

However, Tanaka wasn’t to be denied seven minutes later, taking advantage of some comical defending from Matildas centre-backs Clare Hunt and Alana Kennedy to score her second goal of the match.

Hunt and Kennedy bumped into each other in attempting to clear a seemingly harmless through ball from Hikaru Kitagawa, allowing Tanaka to pounce and slot the ball past exposed Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

Japanese players celebrate one of their four goals. Picture: Jack Gorman/Getty Images

Things were to get worse for the Matildas seven minutes into the second-half when Maika Hamano increased Japan’s lead.

The Chelsea forward applied the finishing touch following an elaborate passing move involving Fujino, Yui Hasegawa and Tanaka that tore apart a ragged Matildas defence.

Japan wasn’t finished, adding a fourth goal in the 75th minute through defender Moeka Minami, who beat goalkeeper Arnold to a cross from Kitagawa to head the ball into an empty net.

The Matildas’ first shot on goal didn’t come until the 87th minute when a strike from substitute Charlotte Grant hit the crossbar.

However, it would have been nothing more than a meaningless consolation goal for an Australian side that has plenty of soul searching to do ahead of Monday’s clash against the United States in Glendale.