Japan shines in SheBelieves Cup opener to take down Australia 4-0
(image via NWSL/X)
The 2025 SheBelieves Cup got underway at a chilly Shell Energy Stadium on Thursday afternoon with Japan taking on Australia. Japan showed their class, led by one of their NWSL players in Mina Tanaka, to coast to a runaway victory.
Japan opened the scoring in the sixth minte. Aoba Fujino found space on the left and floated a ball into the box. It was headed away by Australia to the top of the box but only as far as Mina Tanaka. Fuka Nagano shot it back on goal and Tanaka backheeled it between the defenders legs, past Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, and into the back of the net. A class way to score her 40th goal for her country.
Tanaka nearly doubled her tally in the 26th minute but her looping header came back off the cross bar. She did find her second, and Japan’s second, in the 33rd minute. Hikaru Kitagawa played what seemed like a harmless ball into the box. It rolled in front of goal and Arnold came out to attempt to claim it. Tanaka beat her to it, however, and poked it between the Aussie keeper’s legs to make it 2-0.
Japan came out after the half pressing for more goals and they got their third in the 52nd minute. Some gorgeous build up play on the left side of the attack worked the ball into the box for Tanaka. She squared for Maika Hamano to tap in and give Japan a 3-0 lead.
The Japanese added a fourth in the seventh minute to put the game away for good. A short corner routine was played into the box by Kitagawa. Defender Moeka Minami rose to get to the ball first and her header found the net to make the score 4-0.
Japan’s beautiful brand of football shone through all match and they were rewarded with the victory at the final whistle. Tanaka’s two goals and assist rightfully earned her Player of the Match and makes her the early favorite for SheBelieves Cup MVP. Australia proved to be no match for the Japanese, failing to register any shots on goal. It won’t get any easier for the Australians as they’ll take on the United States in the second matches of the tournament on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Japan will play Colombia.
