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)

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

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, 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.

Japan forward Mina Tanaka, left, and midfielder Fuka Nagano, second from left, high-five after a goal by Tanaka as Australia forward Mary Fowler, second from right, walks away and Japan forward Maika Hamano (17) runs up during the SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer tournament, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Australia defender Alanna Kennedy (14) heads away a shot on goal by Japan in front of Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, left, during the SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer tournament, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Australia forward Caitlin Foord, left, and Japan defender Toko Koga, right, battle for the ball during the SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer tournament, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Japan midfielder Yui Hasegawa, left, gets control of the ball as Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry (19) falls during the SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer tournament, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Japan midfielder Yui Hasegawa (14) falls tangling up with Australia forward Hayley Raso (16) as forward Mary Fowler (11) and midfielder Katrina Gorry, right, look on during the SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer tournament, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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