The CommBank Matildas have advanced to the final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, defeating defending champions, China PR 2-1 in the semi-final.
Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr were on the scoresheet either side of half-time to secure the all-important victory. The result means that Australia will play either Japan or Korea Republic in the final at Stadium Australia on Saturday.
Head Coach Joe Montemurro made two changes to the side that was victorious in the quarter-finals. Steph Catley came into the back line after being cleared to play, while Kyra Cooney-Cross made her first start of the tournament in midfield. Winonah Heatley and Emily van Egmond were the two players to start from the bench.
The first half was an end-to-end, open affair. Mary Fowler had the first significant opportunity when a long diagonal from Kaitlyn Torpey found her in the penalty area, but she blazed over the crossbar.
Fowler wouldn’t let it faze her, being crucial for the opening goal. She found Ellie Carpenter from midfield, and then received the ball back in the penalty area. Instead of shooting, her cutback found Caitlin Foord, who hammered it home for her first goal of the tournament to give Australia the lead from a well-worked team move.
China hit back from the penalty spot. Zhang Linyan was fouled by Mackenzie Arnold and was tasked with stepping up from the conversion. She sent Arnold the wrong way to level things up midway through the half.
Australia controlled most of the ball for the remainder of the half, but seemed vulnerable in transition moments. Arnold was called into action on a number of occasions as China’s high press caused concern. The teams were locked at one goal apiece at the break.
The second half began with China in the ascendancy. Australia’s defence was consistently called into action, and it appeared that the defending champions were more likely to break the deadlock.
However, they did not count on the magic of Sam Kerr. It was wonderful work from Kaityln Torpey in the first instance to keep the ball under pressure. She played to Kerr, who had dropped deep. Kerr found Foord, and then received the ball back in behind. The captain played it around the keeper and finished from an almost impossible angle to give Australia the lead.
Montemurro made the first change of the game off the back of that goal. Winonah Heatley came into the centre of defence to replace Clare Hunt.
The goal seemed to shift the momentum in Australia’s favour. Foord and Kerr worked well together to earn a number of opportunities, including consecutive corners taken by Steph Catley and Mary Fowler respectively.
He made a double change in the 78th minute, with Clare Wheeler and Amy Sayer replacing Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mary Fowler.
With the narrow lead, Australia tried to take as much time out of the game as they could. Torpey made a number of strong runs up the left-hand side to take it into the corner.
The final substitution window was a significant one. Emily van Egmond entered the field for the 170th time, becoming the leading appearance maker for any Australian national team player. Charlize Rule entered alongside, and they replaced Katrina Gorry and Alanna Kennedy.
As had occurred in previous games, Rule’s introduction meant that the defensive shape switched to a back five for the final few minutes of stoppage time.
Australia held on to secure victory in the semi-final and advance to the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ on Saturday.
Match Summary
Australia: 2 (Foord 17', Foord 58')
China PR: 1 (Zhang 26')
Australia: 1. Mackenzie Arnold (GK), 4. Clare Hunt (3. Winonah Heatley 61'), 7. Steph Catley, 8. Kaitlyn Torpey, 9. Caitlin Foord, 11. Mary Fowler (17. Amy Sayer 78'), 14. Alanna Kennedy (24. Charlize Rule 90'), 19. Katrina Gorry (10. Emily van Egmond 90'), 20. Sam Kerr, 21. Ellie Carpenter, 23. Kyra Cooney-Cross (6. Clare Wheeler 78')
Unused substitutes: 2. Courtney Nevin, 5. Jamilla Rankin, 12. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 13. Alex Chidiac, 15. Kahli Johnson, 16. Hayley Raso, 18. Morgan Aquino (GK), 22. Michelle Heyman, 25. Holly McNamara, 26. Remy Siemsen
China PR: 12. Peng Shimeng (GK), 3. Chen Qiaozhu (4. Wang Linlin 87'), 5. Wu Haiyan, 8. Yao Wei, 9. Wurigumula (13. Jin Kun 71'), 10. Wang Yanwen (16. Liu Jing 77'), 15. Wang Aifang, 19. Zhang Linyan, 20. Zhang Chengxue (24. Yuan Cong 87'), 23. Shao Ziqin, 26. Zhang Rui (14. Li Qingtong 77')
Unused substitutes: 1. Zhu Yu (GK), 2. Wang Ying, , 6. Zhang Xin, 11. Wu Chengshu, 17. Xie Zongmei, 18. Tang Jiali, 21. Li Mengwen, 22. Chen Chen (GK), 25. Lyu Yatong