Five members of our first team squad are set to battle for supremacy in Sydney at 09:00 (UK) on Saturday 21 March.
Football is often unpredictable but, in this case, Australia and Japan’s billing as two of the pre-tournament favourites has been backed up by performances on the pitch.
And in a re-run of the 2018 final between the two sides, an exciting end to end contest between two of the region’s leading lights beckons.
For Australia, it’s another shot at winning a major tournament on home soil after reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
Mary Fowler was a central figure in that success and has picked up where she left off at the Asian Cup, grabbing one goal and two assists for the Matildas en route to the final.
After coming on as a late substitute in their Group A opener against the Philippines, Fowler got herself on the scoresheet in Australia’s 4-0 win over Iran, before turning provider in their thrilling 3-3 draw with South Korea.
That point meant they had to settle for a runners-up spot in Group A, but they saw off North Korea in the last eight to book a semi-final tie with reigning champions China.
And the Matildas once again managed to get over the line, with Fowler setting up Caitlin Foord’s opener in a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
Japan, meanwhile, boast four City players in their squad who’ve each played an important role in their march to the final.
Ayaka Yamashita has kept two clean sheets in three appearances and is no stranger to success in an Asian Cup final, having saved a penalty in the 2018 final triumph over Australia.
One such shutout came in Nadeshiko’s 2-0 win over Chinese Taipei which ensured they began the tournament with victory.
Their triumph over India was much more convincing with Yui Hasegawa grabbing a goal and assist in an 11-0 win to guarantee qualification from Group C.
And our midfielder added another assist to her tally in the 4-0 win over Vietnam, with Aoba Fujino also on the scoresheet to confirm top spot.
Fujino turned provider in the quarter-final win over the Philippines, with both her and team-mate Risa Shimizu grabbing two assists en route to a 7-0 win, which also saw Hasegawa make her 100th senior Japan appearance.
And all four of City’s Japanese stars were in action again as they booked their spot in the final with a 4-1 win over South Korea in the semis.
Club team-mates will lock horns on the international stage tomorrow but, regardless of the outcome, all five have done City and their nations proud.
Keep across mancity.com and the official Man City app for reaction to the Asian Cup final on Saturday morning.
