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Tournament favourites Japan have overcome a frustrating first half to post a 2-0 win over Chinese Taipei in their Women's Asian Cup clash in Perth.

On an afternoon when temperatures soared past 36 degrees shortly after the 1 p.m. kick-off, Chinese Taipei had just 9.3% possession in the first half but still managed to enter the break locked at 0-0.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute via Momoko Tanikawa, while substitute Kiko Seike secured the win with a 92nd-minute header in front of 1,223 fans at HBF Park.

World No. 8 Japan are expected to easily top Group C, leaving Chinese Taipei, India and Vietnam to scrap for second spot.

But as the clock ticked past 60 minutes on Wednesday and with the scoreboard still 0-0, Japan's players were worried.

Chinese Taipei's tactics were easy to decipher; sit back and defend with gusto, and launch the ball forward -- often straight back to Japanese players -- whenever possession was won.

Such was Chinese Taipei's struggles to even get the ball past halfway, their first touch in their attacking box didn't arrive until the 37th minute.

Japan launched wave after wave of attacks in the first half, but it all came to nothing.

The closest they came was just before first-half stoppage time when Chinese Taipei's Hsu Yi-yun almost put the ball into her own net following a cross from Japan's Mina Tanaka.

Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting got a fingertip on the ball to slow its progression before defender Chang Chi-lan backheeled it off the line just as it was about to bounce over.

Japan continued to threaten early in the second half and they finally got reward when Tanikawa expertly chested down a floating pass before poking the ball into the net.

The points were secured in stoppage time when Seike charged in to head home from close range.

Japan ended the match with 89.5% possession and a whopping 30 shots to zero.

Their campaign resumes on Saturday night when they face India at HBF Park.

"It's difficult for anyone when a team is parking the bus in front of the goal -- there is not much room to shoot the ball in," Japan coach Nils Nielsen said.

"But at least we know they're not going to score because they don't come up on our half, so that's one worry less.

"We need to be a bit more sharp [in attack]. But this was the first game, and now we are in the tournament and opened it with three points, so you cannot be unhappy with that."

Chinese Taipei, who take on Vietnam on Saturday, lost Pu Hsin-hui in the 25th minute to what looked like a serious injury to her left knee after being stretchered off for medical assistance.