CommBank Matildas Head Coach Joe Montemurro said that, while the team’s 2-1 victory over Korea DPR was not pretty, the team adapted to tournament football to achieve the result.
He was speaking at the post-match press conference in Perth alongside Player of the Match, Sam Kerr.
“In tournaments, you have to just take the game for what it is,” he explained.
“We knew they'd have a lot of the ball. We knew that, in areas, they could hurt us. The next game will be different.
“My remit is to win football matches and sometimes you have to have that flexibility, and the players know that. It's part of adapting to the situation… in tournament football, you've got to play the like-for-like scenario and find a way, and allow the world-class players like Sam and others to do what they need to do.
“They took the moments. At this level, it's all about moments. That’s all it is.”
He described Korea DPR as the best side at the tournament, and that his team had to adjust accordingly.
“They're the best team in the tournament. They really are. They're a great side,” he said.
“They have their reasons for the way they play. It’s very difficult and it's very unpredictable. So we just had to be methodical, and where we won the game were the little bits in between, as we were losing the ball or as we were winning the ball, to keep our shape and keep our organisation.
“Yeah, we didn't create much. We had to resist a lot. But it's the way you beat these teams. You have to manage the game in a certain way, and fortunately enough for us, we did it.”
Kerr admitted there was relief at the final whistle as the team held on for the win and ultimately both advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™, and also qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ in the process.
“You have to play every moment,” she explained.
“With eight minutes added time, they were putting us under the pump. At the end of the day, we just wanted to win the game. They had a little bit of the ball, and I thought we managed it well, but we were under the pump. The relief is that the game's over and we've won, and then we came back into the change room after and talked about the World Cup [qualification] and celebrated a little bit.
“We’re just happy to continue in the tournament. There’s multiple things on the line, but at the end of the day, we're here to win every game. So in that moment, I think we were just thinking - thank god that's over!”
She elaborated further on what it means to qualify for Brazil 2027™.
“For us as a footballing team, it's the pinnacle. So to put our team there is an amazing feeling,” she said.
“Brazil is a footballing nation. What an amazing World Cup to go to. It will be incredible. I hope I'm there. Just the fact that we all get the opportunity to be on the biggest stage is incredible.”
Alanna Kennedy scored her fifth goal of the tournament to get things going in the first half, and was a standout player throughout the 90 minutes. Montemurro praised her performance.
“It's been [about] finding some consistency and belief in her, and having someone that believes in her, I think,” he said.
“As a six [defensive midfielder], she could be world-class, and she's showing that at the moment. There’s still a lot more [to come] - she's one I believe has a little bit more in terms of really taking it to the next level.
“She's come into this tournament playing at London City, playing regularly. She's been playing as a centre-back. My coaching staff said to me - what are you doing? But she’s showing them.
“Today we played her in front of the back four, and they were obviously a team that was very direct, and the amount of ball she won in those areas was crucial for the game. It’s important for the team, but for her, I'm so happy and proud of her in the steps that she's taken.”
He also took time to praise Kaitlyn Torpey, who stepped into left-back in the absence of the injured Steph Catley.
“We felt that the way Korea DPR pressed, that if she could come inside, she'd create a line of pass as a right-footer,” he explained.
“I would normally play a left-footer on that side. We felt that was a way we could break their first line and actually get attacking scenarios. The first goal started from a build up in that area.
“What I love about Kaitlyn is that she's such a good student of the game. She really wants to learn and keep developing. She comes into every video session with a notepad, takes notes. So she's brilliant, and deserved all the accolades tonight.
“She did a great job. We know that she's there for the team and for the future of the Matildas.”
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Semi-Final
CommBank Matildas v China PR or Chinese Taipei
Date: Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Venue: Perth Stadium, Perth
Time: 6:00pm AWST/9:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Radio: ABC Sport & ABC Listen
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