Mina Tanaka scores twice, Japan beats Australia 4-0 in SheBelieves Cup opener

By: The Associated Press Posted: 6:09 PM CST Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025

HOUSTON (AP) — Mina Tanaka scored a pair of first-half goals and assisted on a second-half goal as Japan opened the SheBelieves Cup with a 4-0 win over Australia on Thursday.

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HOUSTON (AP) — Mina Tanaka scored a pair of first-half goals and assisted on a second-half goal as Japan opened the SheBelieves Cup with a 4-0 win over Australia on Thursday.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/02/2025 (592 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HOUSTON (AP) — Mina Tanaka scored a pair of first-half goals and assisted on a second-half goal as Japan opened the SheBelieves Cup with a 4-0 win over Australia on Thursday.

Tanaka scored on a right-footed shot from the right box in the sixth minute before corralling a loose ball in the middle of the box and tapping a right-footed shot through goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s legs and into the net in the 33rd minute.

Maika Hamano scored from just outside the goalkeeper’s box in the 53rd minute off a centering pass from Tanaka to make it 3-0. Moeka Minami scored in the 75th minute on a header from just outside the right box off a pass from Hiraku Kitagawa.

Japan's Mina Tanaka, left, Fuka Nagano (10) and Maika Hamano (17) celebrate after a goal by Tanaka as Australia forward Mary Fowler, right, walks away during the SheBelieves Cup women's soccer tournament, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Japan, ranked eighth in the latest FIFA rankings, was playing its first match under new manager Nils Nielsen.

Japan plays Colombia on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, before facing the U.S. on Feb. 26 in San Diego. Australia faces the U.S. on Sunday in Glendale before finishing play against Colombia on Feb. 26 in San Diego.