The Matildas have finished second in Group A at the Women’s Asian Cup, with Alanna Kennedy’s late equaliser earning her side a pulsating 3-3 draw with South Korea at Stadium Australia.
Having needed a win to top the group due to the Taeguk Ladies’ superior goal difference, Australia will now travel to Perth for its Friday night quarterfinal against either North Korea of China, both of whom are giants of women’s football.
South Korea, meanwhile, will have the luxury of remaining in Sydney for the rest of the tournament.
Australia coach Joe Montemurro said his side’s preparation for the knockout stages won’t change, despite the result adding another cross-continental journey to an already gruelling tournament schedule.
“We all want it to go perfect, there’s always a little hiccup along the way. In the end we still haven’t lost a game, in the end we still qualified for the quarter finals,” Montemurro said
“I think our preparation stays the same… we now just have to manage the travel.”
Kennedy’s last minute equaliser was her second goal of the night and fourth in two games, remarkably moving the defensive midfielder level with North Korea’s Myong Yu-jong as the tournament’s top scorer.
Her latest effort — made possible by a neat Sam Kerr lay-off — was hammered home from near the penalty spot and came after South Korea had dictated much of the second half.
Australia led 2-1 at half-time, but was behind barely 10 minutes later.
South Korean substitute Kang Chae-rim was far too hot for the Australian defence, first winning a penalty, confidently converted by Kim Shin-ji, and then striking low and hard from the edge of the area to put her side in front.
Earlier, Kennedy turned in from a goal mouth scramble before Sam Kerr swept home in first-half stoppage time to send the majority of the 60,279 fans at Stadium Australia into raptures.
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That came after a shaky start for the Matildas saw Mun Eun-ju put South Korea in front after 13 minutes, sliding in the six-yard box to complete a crisp counter attacking move.Â
And Australia’s early struggles were only exacerbated when Steph Catley become the second Australian in as many matches to depart the field after taking a ball to the head.
Catley was hit from point blank range while defending a cross — she passed an initial concussion test but asked to be substituted just ten minutes later, putting her involvement in Friday’s quarterfinal in serious doubt.
Steph Catley was struck on the head by the ball as she attempted to defend an early Korean cross. (Getty Images: Brendon Thorne)
Her replacement, Courtney Nevin, struggled against the electric Kang and was the guilty party for South Korea’s penalty, with VAR showing the fullback blocked Kang’s shot with her arm.
Relive all the action in our live blog below.
Key Events
7h ago7 hours agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:06am
7h ago7 hours agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:02am
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Show all key events8h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 9:36amMatildas vs Korea Republic live scoreboard
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 12:10pm
We’ll leave it there!
Not the result the Matildas wanted, but that was an excellent game.
Next stop Perth on Friday, where Australia will face either North Korea or China.
Thanks for joining us tonight and we hope to see you then!
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:44am
Philippines remain in quarterfinal hunt
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The Philippines have kept their knockout round dreams alive, defeating Iran 2-0 at a wet and woolly Gold Coast Stadium.
That result brings the Filipinas’ goal difference to -2, and gives them a real chance of progressing as one of the two best third placed teams.
Iran, meanwhile, bows out of the tournament.
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:42am
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro fronts media
Joe Montemurro is not overly pleased with the way his team played.
“We’ve gotta keep the ball better. It’s been the thing I’ve been endorsing from day one. When we do it, we do it well.
“We started to force things when we didn’t need to, the game got scrappy and got to a point I didn’t like. [In the first half] there were some chances we probably should’ve converted.Â
“It was a patchy sort of game and we never really found momentum.”
And he’s addressed having to now head back to Perth for the quarter-finals.
“We all want it to go perfect, there’s always a little hiccup along the way. In the end we still haven’t lost a game, in the end we still qualified for the quarter finals.Â
“I think our preparation stays the same… we now just have to manage the travel.”
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:34am
‘Mixed emotions’ for Kennedy
Australia’s goal scoring extraodinaire, Alanna Kennedy, is speaking to Paramount Plus.
She’s saying there were positives to take from that game.
“Mixed emotions – obviously I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win,” Kennedy says.Â
“But the mentality towards the end was a sign of the Matildas we know and love so hopefully we can continue to take that into the next match.”
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:29am
Happy not to travel
South Korea coach Shin Sang-Woo is pleased his side now gets to stay in Sydney, not to rub it in for his counterpart Joe Montemurro.
“Because of our players’ contribution today we’re gonna have enough rest and enough time for preparation, so we can show better performance for quarter-final and rest of the tournament.”
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:27am
South Korea speaks after match
South Korea’s coach Shin Sang-Woo is speaking to media at the press conference.
“I’d like to say thank you to all of my players because they did not give up and gave 100 per cent to the end. I slightly feel sorry that we couldn’t end this game with three points. But I’m still delighted with the first goal to be winner of this group.”
And player of the match Kang Chae-Rim
“I’m also delighted that we were able to achieve our first goal to be the group winner. Moving forward we’re going to improve more as a team.”
6h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:23am
Montemurro rues ‘patchy’, ‘careless’ performance
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It was not the result that Australia wanted, and Joe Montemurro is giving his thoughts on a disappointing night for the green and gold.
He tells Paramount Plus his side was too messy at Stadium Australia.
“You never doubt the fight, you never doubt the confidence and the fight, but we need to manage games better,” Montemurro says to Paramount Plus.
“We were very patchy tonight and I think when you play against a quality team, and when they can retain the ball, you’re not going to get the result you want.”
He says his team needs to be better at managing games.
“We were just careless in certain things,” Montemurro says.
“We didn’t get our distances right, probably the ball speed was a bit too slow at times.
“It’s a pity, because in the first half especially we sort of adjusted tactically and it work.
“And then in the second-half, the whole idea was to manage the game and we got ourselves caught.”
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:16am
What a game
Definitely not quite the result I wanted but a very good, entertaining game of football! These woman are super stars!
– Billy
Certainly the game of the tournament so far!
Epic stuff in Sydney.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:13am
The Matildas now have to do it the hard way
There was fight and spirit, and oh so much intent from the Matildas. But the execution and the quality simply wasn’t there tonight.
The draw feels like a loss for the Matildas, whose second place finish in the group means they now have to head back to Perth for the quarter-finals, and then hopefully semis.
South Korea gets the big advantage of staying in Sydney now for the rest of the tournament.
Shall we look for a silver lining? If they get through the quarters, the Matildas will at least avoid the red hot tournament favourite Japan in the semi-finals.
Their opponents in the last eight will be North Korea or China, who play tomorrow night.
The second half was owned by South Korea. The Australians offered little in attack, and were shown up big time defensively when it mattered.
ABC Sport expert commentator Alicia Ferguson gave her thoughts on our broadcast.
“I personally would’ve held Mary Fowler back as an impact player, I would’ve started with Amy Sayer,” she said.
“We know the quality of Mary Fowler, did we see enough of her? Did we see enough of Sam?
“It was one of those nights where a few things weren’t quite right.”
Congratulations to South Korea – deserved the win, will be happy with the draw, and looking good for a deep run in the tournament,
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:06amFT: Australia 3 – 3 Korea Republic
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The clock ticks past 100 minutes and the final whistle is finally blown.
Korea Republic tops the group.
And on the basis of what we’ve just witnessed, deservedly so.
The Matildas started so promisingly but wilted a touch in that second-half.
Korea was professional and at times exhilarating after the break, with substitute Kang Chae-Rim wreaking havoc, winning a penalty and finding the back of the net.
Alanna Kennedy’s stoppage time equaliser — her second of the night and fourth of the tournament — too little, too late for the Matildas, who finish second in Group A.
They will face either North Korea or China in the quarterfinals in Perth on Friday night.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:02amKennedy strikes again! It’s 3-3!
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97′ The ball bobbles up in the penalty area, and Alanna Kennedy charges forward and hammers the ball into the back of the net.
It’s a wonderful finish from Australia’s top goal scorer, high and hard into the net.
With added time elapsed, it’s surely too little too late for the Matildas.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:00am
Kennedy with a chance
96′ It’s an excellent ball in from Courtney Nevin on the left, and Australian top scorer Alanna Kennedy is stooping and directing her header towards goal.
It’s a good, diving save from the Korea shot stopper.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 11:00am
Kang goes again
94′ This has been an excellent second half of football from the Korea Republic.
Kang again is causing all sorts of trouble down the right.
She eventually loses it but her team-mates are very high up the pitch and hemming the Australians in.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 10:56am
Kerr goes down in the box
90′ There are some Australian appeals for a penalty as Sam Kerr gets in a tangle with her South Korean marker.
Nothing doing from the referee.
It’s the correct decision, but not a popular one at Stadium Australia, as the crowd groans.
We move into seven minutes of added time.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 10:54am
Matildas running out of time
89′ The Matildas have faded horribly in this second half.
They are building from the back, but without real conviction.
Kyra Cooney-Cross plays wide to Mary Fowler, who turns around and plays the ball back infield.
Fowler eventually gets a cross in, but it’s over hit and well away from a stretching Caitlin Foord.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 10:50am
Van Egmond lets fly
85′ That’s better from the Matildas.
It’s a pretty neat move through midfield that ends at the feet of Emily van Egmond, just on as a substitute.
The midfielder lets fly – but not with a whole lot of conviction.
The ball flies over the bar.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 10:49am
Matildas create something
82′ We’ve entered the final ten minutes, and for the first time in what feels like an age, the Matildas have a meaningful foray forward.
Ellie Carpenter whips a tempting cross in from the right and Alanna Kennedy is up but unable to get her head to the ball in any meaningful way.
And it’s Carpenter thinks she should have a corner, but the ref says it’s a goal kick.
For not the first time tonight, Carpenter is livid.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 10:48am
Cooney-Cross enters the stage
For the first time this tournament, we’ll see Kyra Cooney-Cross get some minutes. She’s come on for Wini Heatley, and the cheer from the crowd is massive. They are psyched to see Cooney-Cross, and who wouldn’t be – she’s a world class player.
Emily van Egmond is also coming on, replacing Katrina Gorry.
7h agoSun 8 Mar 2026 at 10:44am
Biggest crowd in Women’s Asian Cup history
The crowd figure is in: 60,279 have flocked to Stadium Australia tonight, which is short of the ground’s approximate 80,000 seat capacity.
But it’s still a record crowd for this tournament, beating the 44,379 that came to Perth Stadium in the opening match.
Most of the empty seats, by my reckoning, look to be the seats that are usually in the most expensive area, pitch side.
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