Japan vs Australia: Women’s Asian Cup final – team news, start and lineups

Sydney’s Stadium Australia will stage a shot at redemption on Saturday night when an unbeaten Australia meet two-time champions Japan in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final, kick-off at 8pm local time (09:00 GMT).

The same stretch of turf that witnessed the Matildas’ 3-1 World Cup semi-final heart-break to England in 2023 now offers the hosts the chance to claim a first major trophy in front of an expected 83,500-strong crowd and finally erase the memory of two previous final losses to the Nadeshiko.

Australia’s road to the decider has been dramatic. After finishing second in Group A behind a late 3-3 draw with South Korea, Joe Montemurro’s side edged North Korea 2-1 in the quarter-finals before a bruising 2-1 semi-final win over nine-time champions China. Skipper Sam Kerr, four goals in five games since returning from a two-year ACL lay-off, struck the decisive goal mid-week, while centre-back Alanna Kennedy has contributed five goals in as many matches and Caitlin Foord has created three assists.

Japan, by contrast, have been ruthless. World No 6 and the tournament’s highest-ranked side, the Nadeshiko topped Group C with a perfect record, scoring 17 goals without reply, then demolished the Philippines 7-0 and South Korea 4-1 to reach their fourth consecutive final. Riko Ueki’s six goals lead the competition, while winger Kiko Seike has four in four. Across five matches Japan have tallied 28 goals and conceded only once.

History favours the visitors. Japan defeated Australia 1-0 in both the 2014 and 2018 finals and routed the Matildas 4-0 in last year’s SheBelieves Cup. Australia’s lone continental triumph came in 2010, when a 16-year-old Kerr opened the scoring in a penalty shoot-out victory over North Korea.

The victors will pocket US$1.8 million, unchanged from 2022 and a fraction of the US$14.8 million awarded to the men’s Asian Cup champions last year.

Montemurro is expected to reward defender Winonah Heatley with a start ahead of Clare Hunt. Mackenzie Arnold will anchor a back four that includes Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley and Kaitlyn Torpey, while Kyra Cooney-Cross, Kennedy and Katrina Gorry marshal the middle. Kerr will spearhead the attack alongside Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord.

Japan coach Nils Nielsen, who labelled Australia “massive favourites” on home soil, is likely to stick with the XI that overcame South Korea: Ayaka Yamashita in goal; Hana Takahashi, Toko Koga, captain Saki Kumagai and Hikaru Kitagawa across the back; Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa and Yui Hasegawa in midfield; and the front three of Maika Hamano, Ueki and Aoba Fujino.

Al Jazeera Sport’s build-up begins at 06:30 GMT, with live text commentary streaming from the opening whistle.

Japan vs Australia, Women’s Asian Cup final, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Saturday 8pm (09:00 GMT)