The Matildas have rarely, if ever, taken the simplest path towards the silverware that has eluded what is widely claimed to be a golden generation. Now they will have to navigate a longer and bumpier road than hoped via a quarter-final and, if they progress further, semi-final (both played in Perth) to reach the decider of the Women’s Asian Cup back in Sydney.
This time they will also shoulder a heavier load from the baggage of again squandering a host of chances and failing to beat their continental nemesis, South Korea, on Sunday night. As Alanna Kennedy showed with an equaliser slammed home deep into stoppage time, though, the Matildas might have their frailties but can be relied on to keep pushing even – or especially – when their backs are to the wall.
A road needing less travel was temporarily within the Matildas’ grasp before they limply let a half-time lead slip and then needed Kennedy’s last-gasp goal just to snatch a 3-3 draw. The result was not enough for Australia to claim top spot in Group A and with it the opportunity to play out the remainder of their tournament at the same venue of Stadium Australia.
The Matildas will instead face the second-placed team from Group B, likely to be North Korea or reigning champions China. Avoiding a potential semi-final matchup with the tournament favourites, Japan, is one of few silver linings to come out of a chaotic performance.
“We knew [travelling across the country] was a possibility and we prepared for it,” the Matildas coach, Joe Montemurro, said after the game. “The reality is that in tournaments, we all want it to go perfect, we all want it to go fantastic, and there’s always a little hiccup along the way.
“In the end, we still haven’t lost a game. In the end, we qualified for the quarterfinals and we knew it was always going to be a tough ask [against South Korea].”
Likely opponents and logistical nightmares suddenly look like the least of the Matildas’ concerns. Stalwart Steph Catley is in doubt for upcoming fixtures after being forced from the field after a head knock, while the back four were quickly left all at sea without the experienced and versatile Arsenal defender.
In similar scenes to Hayley Raso’s two blows during the win over Iran on Thursday, Catley copped a ball to the side of the head while blocking a cross from inside the penalty box in the sixth minute. The Matildas vice-captain stayed down for a lengthy period and played another 10 minutes before making the call to remove herself from the action as Courtney Nevin took her place at left-back.
Australia were already a goal down with early signs of a leak in defence before Catley felt the full force of the ball. The home side was sliced open all too easily when Sam Kerr turned over the ball and South Korea launched a lightning counter-attack. Wini Heatley overcommitted to win the ball in the midfield but instead left space behind her for Jeon Yu-gyeong to exploit. A pinpoint pass was enough to beat Clare Hunt and put the ball into the path of Mun Eun-ju who poked past Mackenzie Arnold in the 13th minute.
Catley’s withdrawal soon after breathed fresh life into South Korea as the visitors looked to extend their lead. The Matildas defence took time to settle and was increasingly shaky without Catley’s guidance and presence at the back.
When the tournament hosts finally got the game back under their control it was no surprise to see Mary Fowler light the touchpaper. The 23-year-old was in the right place as South Korea struggled to clear a goalmouth scramble. Her first-time volley put the ball back into the path of Kennedy who knocked it into the net off her shin from close range.
A lengthy period of stoppage time opened the door for the Matildas to claim the lead. Caitlin Foord had earlier fluffed her lines with wasted chances and missed passes but the attacker made the most of a surge into the box to find Kerr all but on her own. Kerr’s clinical finish gave the Matildas the lead and was a small step toward the captain banishing her demons from the quarter-final defeat to South Korea in the Asian Cup four years ago.
Kerr has conceded she still bears the scars of missed opportunities from the last time these two sides met in the continental showpiece. Only glory on home soil might truly heal the wounds and Kerr must know that her goals remain the key to Australia’s hopes as the side heads back to her home town. But game management and a defence that conceded three soft goals will more likely trouble Montemurro until the Matildas play in Perth on Friday.
South Korea drew level eight minutes into the second half after Nevin was penalised for brushing the ball with a raised arm inside the box as Kang Chae-rim took a speculative shot. Kim Shin-ji sent the Matildas’ returning goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold the wrong way, then returned the favour to Kang just three minutes later. The substitute found time and space on the same right side to rocket the ball into the far corner and leave Nevin with her head in her hands.
The Matildas mounted a late comeback in typical fashion but without a cutting edge or the composure to draw level with enough time left to then chase a winner. Kerr was among those to miss chances before the impressive Kennedy’s leveller, but this time the striker will have little time to dwell on her own wastefulness with as much focus turning to tightening up the defence.
