Japan defended their Women's Asian Cup title on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Australia in the final.

Substitute Kumi Yokoyama scored the 84th-minute winner at Jordan's Amman International Stadium in a replay of the 2014 final, when Nadeshiko Japan edged the Matildas 1-0.

Japan was made to defend for the majority of the match as Australia took 22 shots to Nadeshiko's five. Japan, however, converted one of its few chances after Yokoyama was introduced in the 72nd minute.

The forward received the ball from Yui Hasegawa and dribbled between two opponents before driving it into the top corner of the net from about 17 meters.

(Substitute Kumi Yokoyama scores the lone goal of Friday's final.)

"I knew before I got (the pass) that it was coming. But I'm surprised myself," said Yokoyama, who scored four goals at the tournament.

Nadeshiko keeper Ayaka Yamashita gave a stellar performance, saving a penalty and denying multiple close-range attempts by the Matildas. She stopped shots by Sam Kerr and Lisa De Vanna right before saving Elise Kellond-Knight's attempt from the spot.

The victory gave head coach Asako Takakura her first major international trophy since taking the job in April 2016.

"It was a very close match," Takakura said. "We struggled for a while in the match, but I want to congratulate the girls for winning by playing with persistence."

(Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita saves a penalty.)

Nadeshiko striker Mana Iwabuchi was named the tournament's most valuable player after scoring two goals and playing the full 90 minutes in each of Nadeshiko's five matches.

"The team improved little by little throughout the five matches of the tournament. I'm really glad we won," Iwabuchi said.

Japan and Australia faced each other in their final Group B match last week, a 1-1 draw that earned both teams qualification to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Nadeshiko Japan, ranked 11th in the world, advanced to the final by beating eight-time champions China 3-1 in Tuesday's semifinal.

Australia had a harder time reaching the final, beating Thailand 3-1 on penalties after their semi was deadlocked 2-2 at the end of extra time.

China settled for third after a 3-1 victory over Thailand in the playoff for third place.