76,000 for Australia Women’s friendly, Japan launch fightback

International Friendly - Australia v China PR - Accor Stadium
Hayley Raso (16 Australia) scores a goal against China at Accor Stadium. (Noe Llamas / SPP)

Over 76,000 fans saw Australia win the friendly international with China, Japan overcame a half-time deficit to defeat New Zealand 4-1.

Australia struck twice in eight second-half minutes to defeat China 2-0, in front of 76,798 fans at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Clare Wheeler broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half from a Steph Catley free kick, Cortnee Vine’s through ball then saw Hayley Raso double the lead.

Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams’ 104th cap was her final home game for her country and her send-off was led by Australian tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

International Friendly - Australia v China PR - Accor Stadium
Lydia Williams receives a traditional cloak of the Noongar peoples from Evonne Goolagong Cawley. (Keith McInnes / SPP)

Japan came from behind to beat New Zealand 4-1 in Spain, Milly Clegg fired the Football Ferns into a half-time lead but Maika Hamano came off the bench to volley home from outside the box and get a second from Yui Hasegawa’s chipped pass. Aoba Fujino made it 3-1 from 20 yards and Remina Chiba completed the scoring.

Japan v New Zealand at Nueva Condomina stadium in Murcia on May 31, 2024
Japan’s Maika Hamano scored twice against New Zealand. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Argentina were 2-0 winners over Costa Rica at  the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López in Buenos Aires, Maricel Pereyra got the opener on 64 minutes and Yamila Rodríguez soon added the second goal.

Argentina v Costa Rica - Women's International Friendly
Rocio Bueno of Argentina in action against Costa Rica. (Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)

Curaçao beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in the Caribbean Queens Tournament, with each side having a player sent off 15 minutes from time. Trinidad and Tobago also lost 1-0 to Aruba in the same competition.

Morocco 3-2 edged 10-player DR Congo 3-2, Ibtissam Jraidi hitting a hat-trick and Ruth Kipoyi sent off before the hour mark.

Mayssa Baha hit a 13-minute hat-trick in a five-goal haul during Morocco U-17s 8-3 victory over Ivory Coast.

Other women’s international friendly results:

Iran 0-1 Belarus
Venezuela 0-3 Colombia
Bangladesh 0-1 Taiwan
Bolivia 0-2 El Salvador
Uruguay 2-1 Russia

Scotland Women’s U-23s bounce back to defeat Denmark

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