A flawless Japan marched into the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 semi-finals after defeating the Philippines 7-0 in their last eight clash at Stadium Australia on Sunday.
The win means the two-time winners set up an enticing clash with Korea Republic on Wednesday, while also confirming their 10th appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Philippines, meanwhile, will battle against Uzbekistan in Thursday’s playoff to make their second consecutive appearance in the global showpiece.
The two-time champions kept the Philippines backline under pressure from the outset, with Risa Shimizu’s cross finding Kiko Seike in the centre of the box as early as the second minute, but her effort went wide.
Two minutes later, captain Yui Hasegawa forced Nina Meollo into action, with a close-range left-footer which the 21-year-old Philippines goalkeeper punched away. The Filipinas survived another close call in the 14th minute when Seike sent an aerial effort goalwards, only to see it safely collected by Meollo, followed by Mina Tanaka’s header five minutes later.
Tanaka came close again shortly after when she attempted to head home a perfectly delivered pass from Shimizu, but the Filipina custodian came to the rescue once more.
Just as the match approached the half-hour mark, Seike came dangerously close to scoring when she fired a left-footed attempt from a tight angle on the left, which Meollo blocked. The rebound fell to Hasegawa inside the box, but the Philippines keeper again managed to keep the effort at bay.
The Nadeshiko’s relentless pressure finally paid off in the 45th minute when, following a chaotic barrage of attempts from Seike and Toko Koga, Tanaka managed to nod the ball into the net.
Almost immediately after, Japan doubled their lead when Honoka Hayashi’s corner kick found Koga in a perfect position to head home and send Nils Nielsen’s side into the break with a 2-0 lead.
The 2022 semi-finalists began the second half in similar fashion when Remina Chiba, fresh off the bench, met Hayashi’s corner inside the box and directed her header towards goal, only to see her effort parried away by Meollo.
Japan captain Hasegawa also had another attempt in the 55th minute when she unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the box, but saw it sail just over the crossbar.
Chiba was presented with a golden opportunity in the 62nd minute to get her name on the scoresheet when Fujino’s precise corner found her in an ideal position close to the goalmouth, but her header went astray.
Moments later, she had another attempt from close range, only for Meollo to once again avert the danger.
The number 25 finally had her way in the 63rd minute when Fujino’s delightful pass found her inside the box, allowing the substitute to calmly slide the ball into the net.
Japan further extended the lead three minutes later when Matsukobo beat three defenders before sending a composed finish into the right corner of the net to pile further misery on the Philippines.
With 15 minutes still left on the clock, the East Asians then made it five when Momoko Tanikawa’s corner was first met by Tanaka, but with the ball still alive in the crowded box, Tottenham Hotspur defender Koga avoided a throng of white shirts to secure her brace.
The sixth goal for Japan came courtesy of Tanikawa, who, assisted by Shimizu, sent the ball into the bottom right corner from the centre of the box in the 86th minute, before Riko Ueki made it 7-0 seconds after coming on as a substitute as Japan flexed their way into the semi-finals.