Great Britain vs Japan 4-0 (4-0 half-time)

Inspired by a partisan local crowd, hosts Great Britain powered into a 4-0 half-time lead, one which they ultimately did not need to add to further to enjoy a comfortable opening win. Using their physical superiority, they out-muscled the Japanese in midfield and affected a string of turnovers in great areas and were ultimately too strong in each facet of play.

Georgie Twigg fired the warning shot early on when she had a high shot just tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano. Alex Danson broke the deadlock when she capitalised on a ricocheting crash ball. She got an initial touch in the build-up before the ball bounced back to her mid-circle where she reacted brilliantly to control and apply a little reverse-stick dink over Asano.

One became two on 23 minutes when Hannah McLeod threaded a beautiful ball through to Sarah Thomas who applied a late glance into the bottom right corner. GB were further into dreamland when Kate Walsh recovered a corner rebound and worked the ball around the circle via Twigg to Walton. Her lift over Asano's shoulder was delightfully neat, 3-0.

Helen Richardson, then, created the fourth in the 28^th minute, providing a sweet ball through for Danson and she poached her second of the game and 52^nd international strike.

The second half was played out at a much more sedate pace with Britain once again forcing most of the issue. Christa Cullen dinged the post with one of her drag-flicks while Chloe Rogers and Danson had the pick of the efforts from play but Asano did well on both occasions to narrow the angle and keep the chances under control.

GB did, though, have cause for concern when Walsh took an errant stick to the face, drawing blood and requiring her exit from the game with four minutes remaining. Richardson was also carried off, taking a raised ball to her left knee.

Source: FIH.ch