Matildas’ Late Equalizer Against South Korea Results in Second-Place Finish at Women’s Asian Cup

Australia’s aspirations for the Women’s Asian Cup faced a sobering setback as the Matildas let slip a chance to lead their group, resulting in a 3-3 draw with South Korea.

In front of a crowd of 60,279 at Stadium Australia on Sunday, the draw meant that South Korea progressed as group leaders. Joe Montemurro’s team suffered from a second-half collapse that cost them dearly.

Given their lesser goal difference, the Matildas needed a victory in Sydney to secure the top spot in Group A, which would have allowed them to remain in one location for the rest of the tournament.

“We had opportunities that we should have capitalized on, but we didn’t handle key moments well with possession, and that’s the simple truth,” Montemurro admitted. Despite a goal from Sam Kerr and two from Alanna Kennedy, the team could not clinch the win.

With Australia finishing in second place, they’ll now head to Perth for a quarter-final match against the runner-up of Group B—either North Korea or China—scheduled for Friday.

The Matildas led 2-1 at halftime through goals from captain Kerr and Kennedy but a collapse in the quarter-of-an-hour after the break paved the way for the South Koreans to claim a point.

“The comments at halftime were to control the ball,” Montemurro said.

“We were in control and we finished the first half quite well and we were probably more proactive.”

Of further concern for Montemurro will be the fitness of Steph Catley, who wore a cannoning shot to the head after just six minutes.

The left back was initially cleared to play on before going off for Courtney Nevin after South Korea’s 13th minute opener.

Centre-back Wini Heatley was caught upfield and the Koreans played in behind her, with Mun Eun-Ju tucking a Jeon Yugyeong cross past Mackenzie Arnold.

Australia looked to have found some fluency after Montemurro switched Mary Fowler to the left flank and Caitlin Foord to the right midway through the first half.

The move opened up the Matildas’ attack and both Fowler and Foord were the providers for their side’s first two goals.

Fowler’s cross across the six-yard box helped set up Kennedy, who bundled the ball over the line in the 32nd minute to pull Australia level.

Foord blew a couple of handy chances before she set up Kerr in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time to give the home side a 2-1 lead at the break.

But after doing all the hard work to take the lead, the Matildas couldn’t hold on to it.

Kim Shin-Ji buried a 53rd minute penalty after Nevin’s hand blocked a Kang Chae-Rim shot.

Nevin was crestfallen and appeared gun-shy afterwards which allowed South Korea to push ahead when Kang was given space by the leftback to fizz a 57th minute shot past Arnold.

Kennedy added a second — her fourth goal of the tournament — in the dying stages but Australia’s response in search of a winner came all too late.

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