Sam Kerr was the hero, scoring a sensational goal as the Matildas defeated China 2-1 in Perth on Tuesday night to book their place in the Asian Cup final.
Caitlin Foord scored the opening goal when Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter combined in a delightful piece of team play.
Then disaster struck in the first half when Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold conceded a penalty for obstructing a Chinese player in the box — the penalty was China’s only goal for the game.
Kerr scored the matchwinning goal in the second half in a trademark piece of Matildas counterattacking play with a world class finish with her left foot on a very tight angle.
The Matildas captain celebrated in jubilant scenes as she helped her team book their place in Saturday’s Asian Cup final in Sydney.
Watch Sam Kerr’s goal in the video above
Australia will take on the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Japan and South Korea as they aim to win the Asian Cup for the first time since 2010.
This golden generation of Matildas veterans get the chance to win a legacy defining trophy after fourth placed finishes at the the 2023 World Cup and Tokyo Olympics.
It was a physical contest against China, with Katrina Gorry, Kerr and Foord copping some jersey pulling and studs-up challenges.
10.19pm – Sam Kerr gives Matildas the lead
Death, taxes and the Matildas scoring on the counter-attack.
China had dominated the start of the second half, but Kaitlyn Torpey got the ball back in the middle of the field, giving the Aussies an advantage.
Sam Kerr got the ball out wide to Caitlin Foord, who delivered a pass back to the Matildas skipper in space.
Kerr nudged it around the goalkeeper and slotted the goal with her left foot on a tight angle, celebrating in style in front of her home crowd. It’s the type of finish that only the best strikers in the world could pull off.
“That is is perfection from Sam Kerr!” commentator Grace Gill exclaimed in commentary on Paramount Plus.
“It’s Sam Kerr’s house and doesn’t she make that known.”
Andy Harper said: “This is the finish of a natural killer. She is incredible, Sam Kerr.”
Disappointing crowd, empty seats
The crowd figure for the semi-final at Perth Stadium has been confirmed as 35,170.
There’s no two ways about it, that’s a disappointing turnout for the Matildas, who are used to commanding record crowds nearly every time they play.
There were swathes of empty seats at Perth Stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000 — it was a 6pm kick-off local time on a Tuesday night, but tournament organisers would have been hoping for a higher attendance.
It didn’t help that the game was played in an oval stadium.
A crowd of 60,279 watched the Matildas’ final group stage game against South Korea at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, setting women’s Asian Cup crowd record.
But that game ended in a draw and inferior goal difference meant the Matildas finished second in their group and had to travel to Perth for the quarterfinal and semi-final.
South Korea face Japan in the other semifinal in Sydney on Wednesday. The Asian Cup final will be held at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday night.
The Asian Cup has been held across Sydney, the Gold Coast and Perth. Many fans pondered whether there would have been a crowd of 50,000 had the game been held at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, for instance.
9.50pm – All tied up at halftime
It’s 1-1 at halftime in what has been a tense contest. Katrina Gorry looked sore at times after copping some hard challenges.
China’s Wang Aifang was given a yellow card for a studs-up challenge on Gorry, with the studs scraping the Aussie midfieler’s calf, leaving her in agony.
The Chinese player can consider herself extremely lucky not to be given a straight red card.
9.26pm – China equalise in penalty drama
China have equalised with a costly penalty call going against Mackenzie Arnold after the referee deemed the Aussie goalkeeper had impeded China’s Zhang Linyan in the box.
The ball bounced backwards off Clare Hunt’s shoulder and favoured the Chinese player in the box, who had a heavy touch and ran past Arnold to get ball, with the goalkeeper making slight contact with the opponent.
The referee immediately blew the whistle and gave Arnold a yellow card, but she was adamant she didn’t trip the Chinese player.
The penalty was probably there but Zhang certainly exaggerated the contact.
Unfortunately for the Australians, VAR judged it a penalty and Zhang Linyan made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Andy Harper said on Paramount Plus: “A mix up in the Aussie defence, Zhang getting around the goalkeeper with a heavy-ish touch. Mackenzie commits and then withdraws. There was contact.”
9.17pm – Matildas score first
The Matildas have taken a 1-0 thanks to an excellent team goal in the 17th minute.
Mary Fowler passed wide to Ellie Carpenter who passed back into Fowler, who delivered a cutback to Caitlin Foord, who perfectly timed her run and put the ball in the back of the net.
It’s Foord’s 40th goal for Australia.
The Matildas had a tough chance in the early stages but Mary Fowler volleyed Kaitlyn Torpey’s ball over the goal.
The Chinese team, coached by Australian Ante Milicic, had a shot on target in the ninth minute that was saved by Mackenzie Arnold. The defending champs pressed hard early and put the Tillies defence under a bit of pressure.
8.45pm – Two changes to Matildas XI
The Matildas have made two changes to their starting side, recalling Steph Catley after she was concussed earlier in the tournament, and giving Kyra Cooney-Cross her first start of the tournament.
Matildas XI: Mackenzie Arnold, Clare Hunt, Steph Catley, Kaitlyn Torpey, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry, Sam Kerr (c), Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross
8.30pm – Veteran breaks all-time record
Emily van Egmond is set to make her 170th national team appearance, which will see her overtake Clare Polkinghorne as the most capped Matildas player.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who has played at four FIFA World Cups, has been named on the bench for the semi-final against China.
Van Egmond paid tribute to her current teammates, many of whom have also racked up well over 100 caps for the Matildas.
“My debut was actually against Korea DPR in 2010, and a lot of the girls who are here today in the squad have been a part of my career since the start,” she said.
“It’s obviously really special. But what will cap off the night will be getting that win.
“I would probably just say the girls who have grown up with from a young age – the likes of Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso, the list goes on.
“That’s also what makes our team quite unique, and a special group to be a part of.”