Fans are rallying around Steph Catley after a nasty blow to the head against South Korea on Sunday night that’s left the Matildas veteran in doubt for Australia’s Asian Cup quarter-final. The Matildas salvaged a 3-3 draw against the Koreans in Sydney after a stoppage time equaliser from Alanna Kennedy, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their opponents topping Group A on goal difference.
The result means the Matildas face a last-eight showdown against the second-placed team in group B – either China or North Korea – who meet in Sydney on Monday night. The Aussies now also have to factor in the extra travel to Perth for their quarter-final clash after failing to secure top spot in the group.
The Matildas could be without Steph Catley for their Asian Cup quarter-final after a nasty blow to the head saw her forced off the field against Korea. Pic: Getty
And Joe Montemurro’s Aussie side could be without Catley for the knockout stage clash after the influential vice-captain was forced off early on Sunday night with suspected concussion. The Matildas left back went down after copping a ball to the side of the head after an attempted cross from the Koreans, in eerily similar circumstances to the two incidents that felled teammate Hayley Raso in the previous win over Iran.
Catley’s potential absence for the quarter-final could pave the way for Courtney Nevin to start at leftback. But the 24-year-old was given a baptism of fire standing in for Catley on Sunday night after giving away a penalty early in the second half that allowed Korea to equalise and being caught out for the go-ahead goal from their opponents moments later.
“Players make mistakes, they make errors, if we are going to pinpoint errors we could be here all day,” Matildas coach Montemurro said after the game. “She made a couple of errors and when you’ve got a young player coming in like that, they have to learn to be a little bit smarter.”
Courtney Nevin (R) looks the most likely replacement for Steph Catley (L) at left back for the Matildas if the vice-captain is ruled out of Australia’s Asian Cup quarter-final. Pic: Getty
Matildas coach drawing on Socceroos’ 2015 Asian Cup win
Montemurro is optimistic about the Matildas’ chances and is taking inspiration from the Socceroos’ 2015 Asian Cup title triumph, when they finished the group stages in second. “I think you’re always going to have these ups and downs in tournaments and it’s probably nice it’s come now,” Montemurro said.
“We showed character to finish the game off and still get a result. We just have to be smarter and stick together. It’s that little something you need in a tournament. I remember when Australia won the men’s Asian Cup, they lost to Korea in the third game, a group game. We needed more goals, we didn’t get them and we’re going on another route.”
Montemurro will be buoyed by the goal-scoring heroics of converted midfielder Kennedy, whose brace against Korea took her tally to four goals for the tournament. Skipper Sam Kerr scored a brilliant goal for the Aussies but she and Caitlin Foord both missed chances to kill the game off. And Australia’s coach will be desperate to fix up his side’s passing and decision-making after lamenting the Matildas’ ability to retain possession against Korea.
with AAP