Australia took on Japan in their second group stage match, looking to build on the success they achieved in the opening match.
Off the back of their dominant debut on the international stage, the CommBank ParaMatildas were looking to repeat their Wednesday night heroics when they faced off against Japan.
Head coach Kelly Stirton opted for an unchanged line-up for the team that beat the Netherlands 12-0, with the birthday girl Georgia Beikoff donning the captain's armband as the team wore their away strip.
After finding the back of the net early in their opening game, the CommBank ParaMatildas faced a stronger defensive unit in Japan. Eloise Northam found the opener for Australia 17 minutes into the game, a drop ball that fell to the feet of Lainee Harrison was crossed to Northam who calmly placed her shot past the Japanese shot-stopper.
With the half-time break looming, Beikoff doubled Australia's lead going into the break. High press on a Japan throw-in saw the birthday girl steal the ball off the opposition and fire her seventh of the tournament into the back of the net.
Harrison added Australia's third in first-half stoppage time. Northam's long throw-in finding Harrison on the top of the box who nodded it past the Japanese defender to go one-on-one with the keeper in the box, slotting home the CommBank ParaMatildas third for the afternoon.
On the other side of the break, Japan went closest to scoring next, a free kick on the halfway line was palmed away by Smith and then forced behind by Blanshard to eliminate the danger in the box.
Harrison added her second of the afternoon - and third of the tournament - catching the Japanese keeper playing out from the back and intercepting the ball to finish her shot into an empty net.
Rae Anderson entered the field for her CommBank ParaMatildas debut, replacing goalscorer Lainee Harrison upfront.
Australia's next opponent hosts Spain, has not recorded a win so far in the tournament going down to Japan and USA.
Watch all the highlights from the game below.
MATCH DETAILS
Australia 4 (Northam 17’, Beikoff 23', Harrison 25+2', 38')
Japan 0
Referees: K. Abt and A. Dominguez
CommBank ParaMatildas Line Up: 10. Georgia Beikoff (c), 6. Katelyn Smith (GK), 3. Tahlia Blanshard, 5. Lainee Harrison (9. Rae Anderson 57') , 7. Eloise Northam
SUBS not used: 1. Holly Saunders (GK), 2. Nicole Christodoulou, 4. Charlize Tran, 8. Matilda Mason
Upcoming Matches
Australia v Spain
Date: Saturday, 14 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick-Off: 12.45pm CEST / 5.45pm AEST
WATCH HERE
Australia v United States of America
Date: Sunday, 15 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick-Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AEST
WATCH HERE
