City stars lock horns in SheBelieves Cup opener
There was a City-centric feel to the opening game at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup as Japan recorded a 4-0 win over Australia in Houston.
Ayaka Yamashita, Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino all started for Nadeshiko at Shell Energy Stadium and helped their side to victory over a Matildas team that selected Mary Fowler from the off.
Japan broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when Fujino's cross from the left was recycled to the edge of the area before Fuka Nugano's shot was turned into the back of the net thanks to Mina Tanaka's delicate backheel from close range.
Following the opener, the encounter developed into an evenly contested affair and former City winger Hayley Raso almost unleashed a pass into Fowler's direction, but it was intercepted just before our forward could strike at goal.
But Australia's strong momentum was almost extinguished before the interval when a hopeful cross into the box was met by Mina Tanaka whose header crashed off the crossbar.
The Utah Royals forward made no mistake when presented the next opportunity, though, as defensive miscommunication following another direct ball into the box allowed the 30-year-old to ghost into the area and tap into the net.
WATCH: Walk and Talk with Hasegawa and Oyama
Following the interval, Tanaka's influence on proceedings continued and she turned provider on 52 minutes when her driven cross following a sublime passing move was tucked into an empty net by Maika Hamano.
And Japan finished off the scoring to add the gloss to a fine afternoon when Moeka Minami met a diagonal into the area to glance the ball into the back of the net.
It means Nadeshiko sit at the top of the SheBelieves Cup table ahead of their second fixture at the tournament when they meet Colombia on Sunday 23 February at 19:00 (UK).
Australia, meanwhile, will look to bounce back in their second assignment – a clash with hosts the United States of America on Sunday at 22:00 (UK).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'Stupid people': Sam Newman lashes out as he and Wayne Carey cop footy club snub
Organisers of a footy fundraising event have been forced to dump Wayne Carey and Sam Newman after community backlash around the planned appearances of the controversial AFL figures. It's the latest blow for North Melbourne's dual premiership legend Carey, who was only last week filmed in a heated stoush with a patron outside a Melbourne pub. Carey was supposed to appear at the fundraising lunch at Victoria's Barwon Heads Football and Netball Club with his friend and fellow podcaster, Newman. But the club decided to alter its plans after 'there was considerable community backlash' around their appearance, according to . Both Carey and Newman are polarising figures and a spokesperson for the club confirmed to News Corp on Tuesday that they had 'decided to go in a different direction' after initially inviting the pair to attend the fundraiser as special guests. Newman insists he and Carey are not bothered by the snub, but hit out at the community uproar in a typically strong-worded statement. 'Some people thought it was not a good idea so they cancelled it, which makes no difference to Wayne and I,' he said. 'These people in good faith asked us to come and then some people get a little anxious about who is appearing and they have every right to withdraw the invitation. 'It is pretty weak of a committee to have the tail wag the dog when I can assure you that the response they got about Wayne coming down, and me, was overwhelming. But the tail wags the dog and in this world we live in intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't feel offended.' RELATED: Max Gawn accepts blame as new footage emerges of fiery clash AFL world responds amid awful news about Dermott Brereton Lachie Neale at centre of AFL controversy after ugly scenes The snub comes days after footage spread online showing Carey in a heated altercation with another patron outside a Melbourne pub, that ended up spilling out onto the street. It's understood the other man in the footage was known to Carey and began insulting the Kangaroos legend, who could be seen tugging at the man's shirt as an onlooker shouted out" 'Wayne, Wayne, relax'. #BREAKING: Wayne Carey has been filmed in a heated exchange with another man at a popular pub in Albert Park. #9News — 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 6, 2025 The incident was the latest in a string of dramas for the AFL great and former media personality, whose incredible playing career was overshadowed by an affair with former teammate Anthony Stevens' wife Kelli in 2002. Carey left the Kangaroos in disgrace despite being the club captain and helping them win two premierships and he hasn't repaired the relationship with his former best mate in the 23 years that have followed. However, veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson revealed last month that Carey and Stevens will put their differences aside to attend North Melbourne's centenary celebrations later this year. The Kangaroos will celebrate their 100 years of existence for the Round 17 game against the Western Bulldogs. The Kangaroos released a video last year to celebrate 100 years in the VFL/AFL, and it controversially left Carey out. But Wilson says the club legend will be welcome in Round 17, where he, Stevens and fellow former teammate Glenn Archer will present a "united front". Wilson said: 'All three men are well aware that they will be there together and united for the first time. There was speculation last year when North unveiled their centenary jumper. And if you remember, there were North champions from through the eras and there was no Wayne Carey (in the video) and Corey McKernan was very upset about this. 'They had a 25-year premiership reunion for the '96 flag, and there was an altercation at a pub between Anthony Stevens and Wayne Carey. We know the history there. They had to be separated. I don't think it was physical, but it was not nice. 'And when there was a motorcade the next day at Marvel Stadium, Anthony Stevens wasn't there and Wayne Carey was. So the club has worked really hard to get all these guys within the fold. And clearly you can't celebrate your 100th anniversary without Wayne Carey being there.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Erin Phillips' tearful revelation about family during emotional Hall of Fame nod
Female footy trailblazer Erin Phillips paid a heartfelt tribute to her family after becoming the first AFLW star to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall Of Fame on Tuesday night. In emotional scenes, Phillips emulated her famous father Greg after landing the prestigious honour, with Daisy Pearce joining the three-time Adelaide premiership player as the first former AFLW players to be inducted. The pair take their place in the illustrious group alongside footy pioneer Debbie Lee as the only female inductees. St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt also joined the Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, along with four-time Hawthorn premiership hero Luke Hodge and former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon. South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley, Tasmanian team of the century vice-captain John Leedham and seven-time East Perth premiership player George Owens were this year's historical inductees. While South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status at Tuesday night's annual dinner in Melbourne. Phillips - who was a two-time AFLW Best and Fairest winner - was joined at the gala night by her wife and former WNBA star Tracy Gahan, along with their four children. But it was a tribute to her father and Port Adelaide great Greg - was inducted in 2020 - that really resonated with those in attendance. 'To my mum and dad, I couldn't have asked for better parents to let me be who I wanted to be ... Mum, you don't really ever get much credit ... I thank you and love you so much. 'To Dad... I can't imagine how hard it would've been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game that she loves anymore. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame. Thank you for teaching me a game that I loved, and even though you knew it wasn't going to take me anywhere at the time, you still taught me anyway.' The honour sees Erin and Greg become the first father-daughter selections, with Fos and Mark Williams, Hayden Bunton Sr and Jr and umpires Jack McMurray Sr and Jr the father-son inductees. Phillips also went on to thank her wife Tracy, while hailing the influence of inaugural female inductee Lee, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2021. 'Debbie, you kicked down this door so others could walk through,' Phillips said. '(You're the) first female member of the Hall of Fame (and) I'm so proud to be by your side, and I can't wait to kick more doors down with you Deb.' The five-year player eligibility rule for the hall of fame was changed for women last year, meaning players can now be inducted within a year of retirement. And alongside Phillips, the other obvious choice was Melbourne AFLW premiership hero Pearce. Currently the coach of West Coast's AFLW side, Pearce was also a three-time best and fairest winner and three-time All-Australian and long regarded as the face of women's footy in Australia. Pearce famously returned from having the twins in 2019 to captain Melbourne to the flag. While Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner. She played in grand final wins for the Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction, before joining her famous father's club Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. Unbelievable speech !! Well deserved even teared up when she thanked her ol man 😢💪 — VB (@VbSmasher) June 10, 2025 A wonderful sportswoman who has deserved all her success and accolades. A beautiful heartfelt speech. Thank you. for sharing your career. — Gwol50 (@gwol50) June 10, 2025 with AAP
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop brutal snub despite Ricky Ponting's concerns
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has confirmed Sam Konstas and Scott Boland have both been excluded from the starting XI for the World Test Championship final with Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Hazlewood getting the nod. One of the biggest talking points for the Aussies leading up to the final against South Africa at Lord's was who would open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja. While Khawaja had nailed down his position, in what is likely his last WTC final, the selectors were trying to find a place for either Konstas or Labuschagne in the side. Cameron Green's return to cricket after injury, and subsequently a return to form, prompted the selectors to immediately catapult him back into the side at No.3. The selectors see him as the future of the Australian batting line-up and his form in the second division of County cricket prompted an immediate recall. With Steve Smith also confirmed at No.4, this meant either Labuschagne or Konstas was set to miss out. Labuschagne has been holding onto his position in the team by a thread in recent months with his form at all levels of cricket a major concern. Fans have also been calling for a change with the Queenslander's form not good enough across the last few years. Although Cummins claimed the selectors have rewarded Labuschagne for helping them get to where they are in the final having promoted him up the order to open with Khawaja. "Cam Green, the last few weeks he's had, coming back in great form, we thought he deserved a spot somewhere in the batting line-up,"Cummins said at Lord's on Tuesday. "We thought three probably suits him best. With Marnus moving, we thought it's one spot up, it's not too different to batting three. He's done well here in England in the past. It's a final, so selectors pick the best 11 for this week." Konstas captured the Aussie publics attention during the summer when he took it to Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG and SCG to help Australia win a tight series. However, his cavalier style of batting divided fans and eventually the selectors. Konstas was dropped from the starting XI for the Sri Lanka cricket tour and was eventually sent home to find form in Sheffield Shield. While he based a number of solid scores, Konstas will once again be on the periphery during the WTC final. While Konstas may have lost his position, Labuschagne has done very little to keep his. Australia's Test No.3 has faced growing calls to be axed for the red-ball test final against South Africa at Lord's with his form dropping off a cliff. Labuschagne only averaged 25.36 with the bat across the summer, after disappointing Test series against India and Sri Lanka. That came after an equally underwhelming previous year for Labuschagne, where he averaged just 27.08 across the summer of 2023/24. And the 30-year-old only managed scores of 23, 0 and 61 in his three Sheffield Shield innings for Queensland after those Test series. One of the biggest omissions from the starting XI was that of Boland. The Aussie quick is a crowd favourite and was player-of-the-match when Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy at the SCG in January against India. However, with Hazlewood returning to form in the IPL, having helped RBC win the title, Boland has missed out on selection once again. 'There are some guys where you genuinely say, you know, 'You've done nothing wrong. Don't change a thing.' And that is Scotty. He is just really unfortunate to miss out,' Cummins said. "Joshy Hazlewood comes back in. We know how good he is. The message to Scotty is there's a lot of Test cricket coming up in the next couple of years, and just because you're mid-30s, doesn't mean you know you're missing this Test, and that's one Test off your career. "By having a squad of fast bowlers, hopefully we can extend all our careers for an extra couple of years. It's really unfortunate Scotty misses this but the message to him is, 'Don't feel like you're running out of time'." Only last month, Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting felt the selectors would lean this way when the move Labuschagne up the order. Although the legendary batter was not 100 per cent convinced Labuschagne should open after his recent dip in form. "I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast. "Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final. Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks." AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
