The Matildas face Japan in their final match of the Tournament of Nations in Illinois. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45am (AEST).
The final day of competition in this unique event featuring four of the best teams in women’s football will come down to the final day of play.
Australia, Brazil and the USA all have a chance of claiming the title yet goal difference looks likely in determining the overall winner.
The USA face Brazil needing a win to set themselves up for glory but the Australians play earlier and will have the opportunity to put some heat on the hosts with a convincing performance against the Japanese.
Should the Matildas triumph, the Americans will need to respond with a win of their own and a numerical result that slips them past the Australians on the ladder.
Coming off a thrilling and disappointing draw against the USA, the Matildas will be confident against the Japanese.
Australia’s greatest foe in Asia in both the men’s and women’s game is always lurking, and as they showed in the 2018 Asian Cup, more than capable of presenting problems for the women in gold.
In a tournament where no team has been held scoreless in any match, expect more of the same. Australia will be searching for more consistent moments of brilliance like the one we saw from Lisa De Vanna and Hayley Raso on Monday and will hope to bring superstar Sam Kerr into the game more often.
The USA held the Australian attack at bay for much of the contest, before finding an equaliser with seconds remaining in normal time.
The Japanese will be looking for a better performance than they produced in the 4-2 loss to the USA in their first game and the 2-1 loss to Brazil, where they scored in injury time.
They haven’t looked in sparkling form in this tournament yet nothing will lift them like a battle with Australia.
Prediction
An improved performance by Japan will push the Australians all the way, however the Matildas will find the net multiple times based on their more potent attacking options.
Australia 3, Japan 1
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 7:45am (AEST).
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Bugger! USA 4 - Brazil 1. USA win over Aus on goal difference. Great performance from our girls though.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I've never felt so Brazilian. They look in big trouble. USA pouring it on now.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Brazil have scored! Own goal from USA defender. They should move her up the other end of the field, it was a cracker of a shot that looped over her goalie and into the top right corner. Matildas looking good now!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Huge! Brazil lead the USA 1-0 after 16 minutes.
Mahler
Guest
The Matildas won BUT...it was a rather forgettable performance apart from the 2 goals and a couple of Kerr near-misses. The Japan girls held the ball well (a lesson for the Matildas) but they lacked a goal scorer. I lost count of the negligent balls that were given away by the Matildas - poor passing, bad decision making. Against a better team they could have been in for a hiding.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The Matildas have defeated Japan by two goals to nil to keep their hopes alive of a successful Tournament of Nations title defence in Illinois. In a match that never really hit great heights, two terrific moments from the Australians made all the difference. Both opportunistic chances were symptomatic of the flow of a match in which both teams found it difficult to maintain possession and build up to attacking chances. Japan started well and looked good on the ball early before the Australians began to press deep in the attacking third. The Japanese struggled to play out and were prepared to play long when in trouble. Australia would have liked to have created more chances in the first half considering that situation, yet the defensive effort of the women in white was committed and consistent. The Australian attack looked clunky at times and Sam Kerr struggled to work into the game. The attacking structure appeared too narrow and played into the hands of the Japanese defence. The deadlock was broken soon after the break when Chloe Logarzo was brought down on the edge of the box and Alanna Kennedy hit a well executed free kick to beat Chika Hirao in goal. It was a low strike that skirted the wall and found the netting within two minutes of the start of the second half. Japan began to search for cleverly angled balls through the heart of the Australian defence to find an equaliser and created half chances. Lydia Williams was rarely tested however, and the strong back four held firm for the aussies as the Japanese kept the ball on the deck and attempted to use their speed in behind. Australia's second goal stemmed from one of those attacks as Kyah Simon's long ball found Sam Kerr on the run and the star skipped around the keeper and slotted home easily in the 81st minute. The victory sets up the next match as the decider. The USA need a win against Brazil by two goals and they will claim the title based on total goals scored. A win by any less margin, a draw or a loss, would see the Matildas retain their Tournament of Nations title. Final Score Australia 2 Japan 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Full Time A late substitution runs the last few seconds of added time off the clock and the whistle blows. The Matildas win well.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
92' - Final seconds here with an Australian throw after the Japanese clear their lines after sustained Australian possession.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
91' - The Matildas look happy to run some clock here and appear content with their days work.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90' - Japan forward and Kawasumi fires on goal. Williams up to the task again. Easy save.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90' - Final minutes of regular time with two minutes to be added.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
89' - Japan forward as Williams does well at the back again. Such a confident keeper with a strong presence.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
No finals. If the USA and AUS both win today, goal difference will decide.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' - Clever little ball through the heart of the Australian defence is cleared by Crummer.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
jameswm
Roar Guru
Stuart can you tell me what the story is in this tournament? Do we need to beat Japan by more than the USA beat Brazil? When is/was that game? Are there finals?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
86' - Just minutes of normal time remain as the Matildas search for another.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
84' - Kerr is clear down the right but this time she is off-side.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
84' - Australia's second has but some pressure on the Americans for their clash with Brazil. One more will make it even tougher.
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
82' - She has done it again!
Australia: 2 Japan: 0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Goal 81' - Australia counter after the stop by Kennedy and the long ball from Simon finds Kerr in the distance. She skips around the keeper. What speed and agility!
Australia: 2 Japan: 0