Match Report
In the standings it was Australia 1st on 18 points, Japan 1st on 23 — separated by 5. On recent form Japan sat only 13th league-wide over the last five rounds, well short of their 1st overall. Per game in the league, Australia were scoring 3.67 and conceding 0, Japan 3 and 0.3, against a competition average of 1.4 goals per team per game.
7 matches unbeaten backed Australia's arrival. Japan were unbeaten in 11.
5 meetings are on record — 0 won by Australia, 3 by Japan, 2 drawn, at 2.8 goals per meeting. History gives the home side just 40% of the wins in this matchup. Goals at both ends are the pattern: both teams scored in 80% of the meetings.
The match was played at Optus Stadium. It was 0-0 at the break, and the second half added 1 goal for the 1-0 full-time score.
Goal scorers
Australia: 1 goal with no recorded scorer