The CommBank Matildas have secured their place in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over IR Iran.
Alanna Kennedy scored a brace either side of half-time while Amy Sayer and Mary Fowler also found the scoresheet. It was Amy Sayer’s first goal at a major tournament for Australia.
The result means that they will finish either first or second in Group A, depending on the result against Korea Republic on Matchday 3.
Head Coach Joe Montemurro made five changes from the side that defeated the Philippines 1-0 in the opening match. In defence, Charlize Rule and Courtney Nevin replaced Steph Catley and Winonah Heatley. Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler came into midfield for Katrina Gorry and Clare Wheeler, while Amy Sayer replaced Hayley Raso up front.
Australia wasted no time getting started in the attacking phases of play. They dominated possession early and kept the ball camped in IR Iran’s back third. Emily van Egmond had the first big chance of the game only minutes after kickoff, with Iranian goalkeeper Maryam Yektaei forced into a good save after a free kick from just outside the penalty area.
The first goal came in the 8th minute. Amy Sayer found space linking up with Ellie Carpenter on the right-hand side of the attack. Her ball into the middle – whether it was a cross, or a shot, is a matter of interpretation – looped perfectly into the top of the net for the opener. It was Sayer’s first goal at a major tournament for Australia.
Caitlin Foord thought that she had scored two with a powerful finish, but the goal was ruled out due to a marginal offside.
Instead, she would have to settle for the assist for the second. Foord’s teasing delivery into the penalty area bent past the run of Sam Kerr, into the path of Mary Fowler at the back post. She did just enough to touch the ball around her defender, and it made its way across the line for her first goal in national team colours in 331 days.
Alanna Kennedy scored the third. Emily van Egmond managed to head it down to Sam Kerr, who, back to goal, teed up Kennedy arriving from midfield. She made no mistake with the finish to score her 13th international goal.
Sam Kerr had the ball in the back of the net just before the end of first-half regulation time, but after review from the Video Assistant Referee, it was ruled offside. Despite the disallowed goals, it was a dominant display by Australia in the first half, with 77% possession, 14 shots on goal to 0, and 6 shots on target.
The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first, with the CommBank Matildas on the attack with the vast majority of possession.
The fourth goal would come after a corner. The delivery was low and driven by Emily van Egmond, and found Alanna Kennedy arriving at the back post. She controlled the header wonderfully to score her second of the night.
A triple change immediately followed that goal. Holly McNamara, Remy Siemsen and Hayley Raso were introduced, replacing Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr. It meant a rejigging of the front three to accommodate.
Another pair of changes happened in the 72nd minute, with Steph Catley replacing Clare Hunt at centre-back and Kaitlyn Torpey replacing Ellie Carpenter at right-back.
The game seemed to slow in the latter stages with a succession of stoppages making it difficult for Australia to build momentum. Remy Siemsen came close to scoring in the first minute of stoppage time but was denied by a fantastic save. Hayley Raso was forced off the pitch with only minutes to go in the game after showing symptoms of a concussion, being replaced by Michelle Heyman.
In the end, Australia would have to settle for a comprehensive 4-0 win. The margin of victory means that they will have to defeat Korea Republic on Sunday evening in order to finish top of Group A.
Match Summary
IR Iran: 0
Australia: 4 (Sayer 8’, Fowler 27’, Kennedy 35’, 58’)
Australia: 12. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 2. Courtney Nevin, 4. Clare Hunt (7. Steph Catley 72’), 9. Caitlin Foord (16. Hayley Raso 59’, 22. Michelle Heyman 90+11'), 10. Emily van Egmond, 11. Mary Fowler (25. Holly McNamara 59’), 14. Alanna Kennedy, 17. Amy Sayer, 20. Sam Kerr (26. Remy Siemsen 59’), 21. Ellie Carpenter (8. Kaitlyn Torpey 72’), 24. Charlize Rule
Unused Substitutes: 1. Mackenzie Arnold (GK), 18. Morgan Aquino (GK), 3. Winonah Heatley, 5. Jamilla Rankin, 6. Clare Wheeler, 13. Alex Chidiac, 15. Kahli Johnson, 19. Katrina Gorry, 23. Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Yellow Cards: 24. Charlize Rule (52’)
IR Iran: 12. Maryam Yektaei (GK) (1. Raha Yazdani 45’), 2. Atefeh Imani, 3. Atefeh Ramezanizadeh (10. Fatemeh Pasandideh 42’), 4. Melika Motevalli, 6. Cahra Sarbali, 8. Shabnam Behesht (20. Sara Didar 55’), 9. Zahra Ghanbari, 13. Fatemeh Amineh, 15. Mohaddesh Zolfi (21. Golnoosh Khosravi 45’), 16. Fatemeh Shaban, 23. Mona Hamoudi
Unused Substitutes: 22. Kahra Khajava (GK), 7. Afsaneh Chatrenoor, 11. Maryan Dini, 14. Fatemeh Makhdoumi, 17. Shahnaz Jafarizadeh, 18. Sina Sadeghi, 19. Roujin Tamrian, 24. Kosar Anbari, 26. Behnaz Taherkhani