The CommBank Matildas will advance to the quarter-finals in second place in Group A after a 3-3 draw with Korea Republic on Sunday evening.
The team took the lead twice in front of a record AFC Women's Asian Cup™ crowd of 60,279, but Korea Republic ultimately held out for the draw. The result means that the team will play either China PR or DPR Korea in the quarter-finals, depending on who finishes second in Group B.
Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr scored goals in the first-half before Kennedy smashed home a dramatic late equaliser deep in stoppage time.
Head Coach Joe Montemurro made five changes from the side that defeated IR Iran 4-0 on Thursday. Mackenzie Arnold made her first start for the tournament, replacing Chloe Lincoln. In midfield, Katrina Gorry and Clare Wheeler replaced Amy Sayer and Emily van Egmond. Winonah Heatley replaced Charlie Rule at centre-back, while Steph Catley came in for Courtney Nevin on the left.
Australia had the running of the play early. Minutes into the game, Sam Kerr found space in behind after a flowing move in transition – reminiscent of her famous FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ goal against England – but this time, shot over the crossbar.
Despite the early pressure, Korea Republic struck first. Jeon Yu-Gyeong found space in behind the defence. Her ball into the penalty area found the run of Mun Eun-Ju, who placed a well-timed finish into the back of the net.
Steph Catley was forced off minutes later due to the lingering effects of a head injury that she acquired in the opening exchanges of the match. She was replaced by Courtney Nevin.
Australia kept on pushing for the equaliser. In the 30th minute, Mary Fowler found space on the left-hand side, but could only hit the side netting.
The leveller came from the resulting corner. The Matildas kept the ball alive after the initial ball was cleared. Fowler – who took the set piece initially – struck a half volley that perfectly found the run of Alanna Kennedy at the back post. Kennedy bundled it home to score her third goal of the tournament.
Both teams had chances throughout the remainder of the half. Clare Hunt was forced into a foul that led to a yellow card after one such attacking moment for Korea Republic.
The Matildas took the lead just before the half-time break. Caitlin Foord did superbly to find space in the centre of the park, beating several defenders in the process. She played in Sam Kerr, who was able to turn and put a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner.
Korea Republic started the second half in search of an equaliser of their own. They found it via the penalty spot. The ball struck Courtney Nevin’s arm from a cross, and Kim Shin-Ji tucked it away well.
They took the lead again through the half-time substitute, Kang Chae-Rim. Korea Republic shifted the play to the right after a set piece. Kang produced a lovely piece of skill to ghost past her defender and place a pinpoint finish across goal.
The first attacking change for Australia came in the 71st minute, when Amy Sayer came on to replace Clare Wheeler.
Once they took the lead, Korea Republic tightened up defensively, making it incredibly challenging for Australia to find a way through. Montemurro turned to the bench again in the 84th minute, when Emily van Egmond and Kyra Cooney-Cross replaced Winonah Heatley and Katrina Gorry.
Kennedy popped up once again deep in stoppage time to power home an equaliser after fine work from Sam Kerr in the penalty area. However, it would not be enough to force a result, and Korea Republic secured the result they needed to finish top of Group A.
Match Summary
Australia: 3 (Kennedy 32', 90+8', Kerr 45+6')
Korea Republic: 3 (Mun 13', S. Kim 53' (Pen), Kang 57')
Australia: 1. Mackenzie Arnold (GK), 3. Winonah Heatley (23. Kyra Cooney-Cross 84’), 4. Clare Hunt, 6. Clare Wheeler (17. Amy Sayer 71’), 7. Steph Catley (2. Courtney Nevin 19’), 9. Caitlin Foord, 11. Mary Fowler, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 19. Katrina Gorry (10. Emily van Egmond 84’), 20. Sam Kerr, 21. Ellie Carpenter
Unused substitutes: 5. Jamilla Rankin, 8. Kaitlyn Torpey, 12. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 13. Alex Chidiac, 15. Kahli Johnson, 18. Morgan Aquino (GK), 22. MIchelle Heyman, 24. Charlize RUle, 25. Holly McNamara, 26. Remy Siemsen
Korea Republic: 21. Kim Min-Jung (GK), 5. Ko Yoo-Jin, 9. Mun Eun-Ju (26. Kim Min-Ji 90+7'), 10. Ji So-Yun (2. Kim Jin-Hui 71'), 11. Choe Yu-Ri (23. Kang Chae-Rim), 13. Park Soo-Jeong, 14. Jung Min-Young (8. Kim Shin-Ji 45'), 15. Jeon Yu-Gyeong (6. Casey Phair 78'), 16. Jang Sel-Gi, 19. Noh Jin-Young (25. Lee Min-Hwa 90+1'), 20. Kim Hye-Ri
Unused substitutes: 3. Park Hye-Jeong, 4. Shin Na-Yeong, 7. Son Hwa-Yeon, 12. Song Jae-Eun, 17. Choi Yoo-Jung, 18. Ryu Ji-Su (GK), 22. Choo Hyo-Joo, 24. Lee Eun-Young