The Continent’s match officials also performed remarkably after AFC referees – Chris Beath and assistants Anton Shchetinin and George Lakrindis from Australia – were selected to officiate the gold medal Final between Brazil and Spain later today.

Kaoru Mitoma scored with 12 minutes remaining to give Japan hope late in the game, but earlier goals via Sebastian Cordova’s penalty and headers from Johan Vasquez and Alexis Vega ensured the Mexicans had a big enough advantage to claim the bronze medal.

The loss means Japan’s wait for a second Olympic medal in the men’s tournament will extend for least another three years as Moriyasu sought to lead the country to a place on the podium for the first time since 1968.

Australia’s Chris Beath will officiate the gold medal match alongside assistant referees Anton Shchetinin and George Lakrindis. The trio was also the match officials in the 2019 AFC Champions League Semi-final and Quarter-final.

Chasing the nation’s first ever Olympic football medal, the Matildas’ sharp attacking performance was undermined by a series of defensive errors in a match that ultimately finished in a 4-3 win for the world champions.

Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd scored twice each to put the Americans 4-1 up just after half time, but goals from Caitlin Foord and Emily Gielnik brought Australia back into the contest after Sam Kerr had become the team’s all-time record goal scorer earlier in the match.

Stina Blackstenius scored her team-best fifth goal of the tournament to give Sweden the lead, but Jessie Fleming's penalty in the second half sent the match to extra time and it finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.

The tournament hosts had been looking to claim the country’s first men’s football medal since winning bronze in 1968, but slipped to a defeat that means their run without claiming a place on the Olympic podium will continue for at least another three years.

Japan previously missed out on a bronze medal in 2012 when Takashi Sekizuka’s team were beaten by Korea Republic at the London Olympics and they were to taste similar disappointment on home soil as Moriyasu’s side were second-best for much of the game.

Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd both scored twice as the world champions capitalised on persistent defensive errors from the Matildas, for whom Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord got on the scoresheet before Emily Gielnik added a further goal in the dying moments.

Despite their defeat, Australia’s fourth place finish is their best ever showing in women’s football at an Olympic Games, equalling the men’s effort from 1992 in Barcelona.