AFC U-16 Women's Championship Group B: Japan 5-0 Australia

The result sees the 2015 runners-up level on points with Group B rivals and reigning champions DPR Korea, who had earlier defeated Bangladesh 9-0.

Traditionally strong starters at the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship – having won five of their previous six tournament openers – Japan were impressive in continuing the trend against Rae Dower’s Juinor Matildas.

Naoki Kusunose’s side took an early lead through Haruka Osawa, who latched onto Warai Yoshizumi’s pass and coolly sent the ball beyond Australian goalkeeper Annalee Grove after just four minutes.

While Japan created more chances, and came close more than once, a committed Australia worked hard to ensure Osawa’s goal was the extent of the first-half scoring.

But the second period began the same way as the first; with a Japanese goal – this time through a moment of individual quality from Chihiro Tomioka, who struck a superb free-kick from the edge of the penalty area just three minutes after the restart.

It took a combination of Grove and the crossbar to prevent Japan from making it 3-0 moments later, but – as Japan continued to string together passes with aplomb – the inevitable third goal came via Tomoko Tanaka in the 54th minute.