The Matildas dominated Japan from start to finish tonight but were held to the solitary second-half goal to open their Pacific Cup campaign with a 1-0 win.
A three or four goal margin would have been a truer reflection of Australia's commanding performance, but some inaccurate finishing and a solid display by Japanese keeper Nozomi Yamago denied the home side of more. The uneven playing surface also influenced the outcome of the game.
Japan fought bravely but had no response to the confident attacking Matildas and were rarely able to venture inside opposition territory. The visitors managed just two shots on goal to Australia's twenty.
Matildas captain Alison Forman had the best of several first half quality chances, bursting through on goal only to skew the shot agonisingly past the outside of the far post with the keeper beaten. Three minutes after the break, Forman met a long freekick at the far post, her chip over the keeper hitting the underside of the crossbar before being cleared by the defence.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute. Sacha Wainwright's cross from the left was missed in the air by Matildas striker Sunni Hughes and the goalkeeper, allowing Bryony Duus to drive home the loose ball from close range.
"I thought our team was excellent," said Acting National Coach Ian Murray. "We've been saying if we keep plodding along with all the work we've been doing, eventually we're going to play football - and that's what we did tonight. We kept the ball and moved it around well and we can only go on from here."