Members of Japan celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

SYDNEY, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan won the AFC Women's Asian Cup for a third time after defeating host Australia 1-0 in the 2026 final Saturday night.

Maika Hamano scored the only goal with a long-range strike in the 17th minute as Japan triumphed in front of a crowd of 74,397 at Sydney's Stadium Australia, a record for a Women's Asian Cup match.

After an opening 15 minutes in which Australia created the better chances, Hamano broke the deadlock when she received the ball with her back to goal on the left edge of the penalty area, turned and fired a dipping shot into the bottom right corner.

The strike, beyond the outstretched arms of Australia's Mackenzie Arnold, proved decisive in a match in which the hosts created repeated opportunities but failed to convert.

Australia's best chance to equalize came in the 89th minute when Ellie Carpenter's cross from the right found Alanna Kennedy, whose header toward the top left corner was caught by a diving Ayaka Yamashita.

The win capped a dominant tournament for Japan, which scored 29 goals and conceded only once in six matches.

It was the third time Japan had beaten Australia 1-0 in a Women's Asian Cup final, having previously done so to win consecutive titles in 2014 and 2018.

Members of Japan celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Members of Japan celebrate after the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Ueki Riko (bottom) of Japan vies with Winonah Heatley of Australia during the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Members of Japan celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Members of Japan pose during the awarding ceremony after the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Players of Japan pose before the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Hamano Maika (3rd L) of Japan celebrates during the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Nils Nielsen, head coach of Japan, is seen before the final of Women's Asian Cup between Japan and Australia in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)