Matildas Kickstart Asian Cup Prep With Gritty Win Over South Korea
It was a cool night in Sydney, and the Matildas stepped onto the Allianz Stadium pitch knowing a statement needed to be made—not just to their fans, but to themselves. After a rough start to the year and a string of injuries that left key players sidelined, Australia’s women’s team found a way to grind out a vital 1-0 win over South Korea, reigniting hope ahead of the 2026 Asian Cup.
In front of a roaring crowd of 37,199, the breakthrough came in the 54th minute—though not from an Aussie boot. Emily van Egmond whipped a dangerous cross into the box, and in a moment of miscommunication, South Korea’s Lim Seon-Joo redirected the ball into her own net. Despite a desperate dive from goalkeeper Kim Min-Jeong, the ball found its way over the line. It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but it was exactly what the Matildas needed.
This victory, although slim, carries weight. Not just because it’s the team’s first win of the year—following a disappointing SheBelieves Cup campaign that saw them drop to their joint-lowest FIFA ranking at 16—but because it came against a tough opponent in South Korea, ranked 19th globally. It was also a bit of redemption, coming three years after the heart-wrenching quarter-final loss to the same team in the 2022 Asian Cup.
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The match wasn’t short on drama. Caitlin Foord sent a scare through the camp early in the first half after a nasty head clash with Choe Yu-ri left her bleeding, though thankfully she returned to play on. Later, Holly McNamara was also forced off after a rough collision with Seon-Joo, who had an evening to forget.
Even with their injury list reading like a who's who of Aussie football—Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Ellie Carpenter, and Mackenzie Arnold all out—it was a gritty, resilient performance. Interim coach Tom Sermanni had to juggle missing stars, late withdrawals, and rising pressure with a smile. The win was also a morale boost in what might be Sermanni’s final outing at the helm, with Football Australia reportedly nearing a decision on a permanent head coach.
Mary Fowler came off the bench and almost doubled the lead with a slick left-footed effort that shaved the post, and goalkeeper Teagan Micah, standing in for Arnold, held her ground with some crucial saves, especially during Korea’s late push.
It was far from perfect, but there were sparks—glimpses of chemistry, flashes of determination, and the roar of a crowd backing their team all the way. The Matildas will face South Korea again in Newcastle on Monday, and while the squad remains bruised and patchwork, they’ve reminded everyone that they can still find a way to win.
And sometimes, that’s more important than how you get there.
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