Tokyo 2020: US Water Polo makes history with 25-4 win over hosts Japan

The U.S women's water polo team made Olympics history with their dominant 25-4 win over hosts Japan in their opening match of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The comfortable victory saw the U.S. topple a number of records at the Games as they start the chase for their third consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.

Head coach Adam Krikorian challenged the players in the build up to their opener on Saturday at the Tatsumi Water Polo Centre by saying "pressure is a privilege," and the athletes answered with a commanding win.

In what the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) called the "most prolific offensive attack in Olympics history" the victory saw the U.S. score 25 goals (surpassing the 16 scored by China and Australia at London 2012) and the most goals in a half, following their 14 against Japan, four more than the previous record of 10.

The 21-point victory also overtook Australia's 16-3 win over Great Britain in 2012 as the most one-sided win in Olympics history.

Maggie Steffens and Stephanie Haralabidis scored five goals each -- Steffens scored just 21 seconds into the match -- while Madeline Musselman and Aria Fischer scored four apiece. Paige Hauschild and Kaleigh Gilchrist also grabbed two each with nine U.S. players scoring overall. At the other end, Ashleigh Johnson stopped 15 of 19 shots.

Team USA's next match is against China on Monday.