Sadayoshi Shirai made wholesale changes to his Japan side with midfielders Harura Matsushita and Runa Sumiya the only two retained from the quarter-final win against Korea Republic.

Australia’s Michael Cooper opted for three changes, with Charlotte Bradshaw, Keira Sarris and Harper Pell given starts in place of Frideriki Karaberis, Leyla Hussein and Theodora Mouithys, who played against Thailand in the last eight.

Despite fielding an almost entirely new side, Japan only needed three minutes to go in front when Bradshaw inadvertently headed into her own net when trying to clear Mashiro Yamaji’s corner delivery.

Japan doubled their advantage through a clever set-piece routine in the 24th minute, Yamaji’s low free-kick driven to the near post for Nanami Kurita to flick past a rooted Dali Gorr Burchmore.

Kurita had further chances to score, blasting Sumiya’s cutback high over the bar before seeing her shot from distance covered by Gorr Burchmore.

The Japanese forward was not to be denied a third time, ghosting in behind Bradshaw to nod home Misaya Takeda’s pinpoint cross from the left as Japan took a commanding lead into the break.

Australia were kept on the defensive after the interval with Gorr Burchmore needing to be sharp to thwart long range strikes from Rara Higuchi and Sumiya before Willa Pearson produced an amazing recovery to block a Sumiya run into the box.

There was nothing Gorr Burchmore could do in the 74th minute when Japan struck from a flowing move which saw Asuka Tanaka picking out Arisu Ota at the edge of the box to strike home to seal the impressive win.