Caitlin Foord and a sublime Sam Kerr strike have fired the Matildas to a 2-1 semifinal victory over China and a place in the final of the Women’s Asian Cup.
With Tuesday night’s game at Perth Stadium delicately poised at 1-1 in the 58th minute, Kerr scored her fourth goal of the tournament to send the Matildas on their way.
The goal was set up by a desperate lunge from Kaitlyn Torpey on her 26th birthday and a sweet pass into the box from Foord.
But Kerr still had plenty of work to do.
After running onto Foord’s pass, Kerr rounded the goalkeeper but found herself confronted with the tightest of angles and knowing China’s defenders were sprinting to the goal line.
“Me and Sam have played many years together,” Foord told Channel 10 after the match.
“Just enjoying every moment of it and it comes very natural to us.”
Kerr held her nerve to thread the needle before China’s defence could get back, with the goal sending the 35,170 crowd into raptures.
“It’s a massive relief,” Foord said.
“We’re building with confidence, we’re building with momentum. I think you’ve seen that. I think every minute we grew more into the game.
“Tonight we were in control and we got the job done.”
Foord opened the scoring with a fine first-time finish inside the opening 20 minutes.
Foord opened the scoring brilliantly for Australia. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)
A gut-busting run down the right broke from Ellie Carpenter left China’s defence scrambling.
Carpenter delicately played the ball into space in the box for Fowler to run onto, with the star Manchester City attacker cutting it back for Foord to slam home.
It was a horror defensive mistake that led to China’s goal in the 26th minute, with defender Clare Hunt accidentally heading a bouncing ball into her own penalty box.
That allowed Zhang Linyan to run onto the loose ball, and she collapsed to the turf under the lightest of touches from goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to earn a penalty.
China equalised from the penalty spot. (Getty Images: James Worsfold)
Zhang put away the penalty, and China continued to assert themselves physically as the game went up a notch.
Chinese midfielder Wang Aifang was lucky to only receive a yellow card in the 35th minute for a studs-up challenge that resulted in her boot scraping down the leg of Katrina Gorry, who was left momentarily hobbled by the incident.
China only had 38 per cent possession in the first half but unleashed 10 shots to four.
Australia needed a spark in the second half, and it was Kerr who provided it when she nailed her moment of truth against the run of play, with coach Joe Montemurro saying his side need to improve.
“If we ask the football question … it wasn’t great from us in the first half. Second half we found a few opportunities,” he said.
“We need to be better with the ball, we need to be smarter and control tempo.
“We have this idea we need to go forward all the time, where there was so much time that we could prepare, and we didn’t.
“We’re going to have to be better.”
Kerr revved up the crowd after scoring the goal, but the Matildas had to survive a few nervy moments before the true celebrations were able to begin.
Australia will take on either Japan or South Korea in Saturday’s final in Sydney, with the Matildas aiming to land their first Asian Cup crown since 2010.
AAP/ABC
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our blog.
Key Events
1h ago1 hours agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:07pm
2h ago2 hours agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:56am
2h ago2 hours agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:17am
Show all key events4h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 9:59amMatildas vs China
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:30pm
Thanks for being with us
(Getty Images)
Well, what a superb way to end an otherwise unremarkable March Tuesday.
Australia will whizz their way back across the country tomorrow to prepare for
When they get there, they’ll find out who they’ll meet in the final, whether it’s South Korea or Japan, with the two east Asian mega teams meeting tomorrow.
Japan are probably favourites, but have they been tested yet? Not really.
And will that lack of competitive action come back to haunt them against a Korea team that have had to dig deep as they showed their class against the Matildas earlier in the competition.
It should be a cracker.
Then, to Sydney for the final on Saturday, where we’ll have all our comprehensive coverage for you to enjoy.
Thanks for being with us tonight, congratulations to Australia and we’ll see them, and you, on Saturday for the final.
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:23pm
‘Natural’ partnership between Foord and Kerr
Caitlin Foord is speaking too.
“It’s a massive relief,” she tells Channel 10.
“We’re building with confidence, we’re building with momentum. I think you’ve seen that. I think every minute we grew more into the game.
“Tonight we were in control and we got the job done.
“I’m just really proud of all the girls.”
Foord scored the opener and then helped set up the winner for Sam Kerr, saying her partnership with the Chelsea striker is “natural”.
“Me and Sam have played many years together. Just enjoying every moment of it and it comes very natural to us,” she says.
As for how the Matildas managed to get over the line?
“That never say die Matildas spirit came out tonight,” she says.
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:19pm
Katrina Gorry rides ‘the roller coaster’
Here’s West Ham midfielder Katrina Gorry.
“I’m really proud,” she tells Channel 10.
“It wasn’t our prettiest game but we fought til the end, it’s that never say die attitude.
“We fought til the end and now we’re in the final.”
She says that although the team had moments where they struggled, the team used the disappointment of previous tournaments to push through the fatigue.
“You ride the roller coaster,” she says.
“Through tournament football you have some good periods, some disappointing periods, you grab hold of those periods and you learn from them.
“You think about the heartbreak and you push thought it in the dying moments and you find away and that’s what we’ve done in the last few games.”
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:15pm
Matildas ‘going to have to be better’
Here’s more from Joe Montemurro, who says the Matildas showed plenty of resilience, but kept coming back to how he wasn’t happy with the way his team played.
“If we ask the football question it was a bit of both, it wasn’t great from us in the first half. Second half we found a few opportunities,” he says.
“We’re going to have to be better.’
He did, however, admit with a sense of begrudging acceptance, that the team showed plenty of heart.
“It’s part of who we are. There’s a resilience that we have in our psyche,” he said, before going back to his thoughts.
“We need to be better with the ball, we need to be smarter and control tempo.
“We have this idea we need to go forward all the time, where there was so much time that we could prepare, and we didn’t.”
He is full of praise for the goalscorer, Caitlin Foord.
“Caitlin is a world class player – it’s why I brought her to Arsenal.
“When she’s on song, she’s one of the best in the world.”
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:11pm
Joe Montemurro not overly happy with the performance…
Here is Joe Montemurro, speaking on Channel 10.
He’s not happy…
“The second half was better, but the first half it was disappointing,” he says.
“We scored a very good goal and I thought we were starting to find our rhythm, and [then] we just backed off.
“We went very deep again. It must be in the DNA. it must be in the water.
We just need to play higher, we need to be braver.
“But look, it’s tournament football, we got the result we wanted.”
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:07pmThe Asian Cup trophy is tantalisingly close!
This was the Matildas’ best performance of the tournament so far.
They were never completely convincing in the group stage, particularly in the 3-3 draw with South Korea.
That meant they finished second in the group and had to go back to Perth to take on a formidable North Korean side.
They were very lucky to escape with the win in the quarters, but their defence, and particularly goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold were the difference in that game.
This game was their most complete, there were so many contributors across the pitch.
Kaitlyn Torpey was fantastic, starting her second straight game at left-back. She repelled the Steel Roses and ignited important creative sparks in attack.
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry enjoyed their midfield reunion, and were pivotal in helping control possession.
Caitlin Foord had her best game, with a brilliant goal, and assist for the second.
And Sam Kerr did Sam Kerr things – making the impossible look easy.
Importantly, there is still room for improvement, particularly not dropping deep when their opposition starts to get the ascendancy, and not giving away cheap balls.
They also have to be wary of not being caught on the hop when the opposition counter-attacks.
But this victory will fuel the Matildas for the final, to be played on Saturday night at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, against Japan or South Korea.
1h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:03pm
Torpey had a brilliant game
Well deserved win by the Tillies. Absolutely great result. Sam Kerr is a legend. Great team work from the Aussies. They closed out the game well. Torpey was amazing. Everywhere.
– Janie
Yes, Sam Kerr will rightly get the plaudits for her goal – and why shouldn’t she?
But birthday girl Kaitlyn Torpey was sublime in that second half, particularly as the Aussies looked to preserve their lead and retain control of the final part of the contest.
Coupled with the evergreen energy of Katrina Gorry and the nous of Caitlin Foord and Kerr.
It was just brilliant.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 12:00pm
Superb finalists
Brilliant. We’ve overcome the semi final curse!!!! We’re off to The Final at last!!!!
– stumcin
It has been a sad run of solemn semis for the Matildas.
No more.
Can they go one step further and emulate the Socceroos in winning the Asian Cup on home soil?
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:56amFT: THE MATILDAS ARE IN THE FINAL!
(Getty Images)
What a performance from the Matildas!
They knew they needed to show more than they did against North Korea.
And they did – a display that mixed impressive control with stunning accuracy up front.
The Matildas didn’t have many chances at goal – just three of them on target – but they didn’t need many.
Sam Kerr’s stunning winner has helped the Aussies into Saturday’s Asian Cup final.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:55am
90+3′ Emily van Egmond becomes Australia’s record cap holder
Kennedy and Gorry have been replaced, with Emily van Egmond coming on with Charlize Rule.
It’s van Egmond’s 170th appearance, a new record for the Matildas.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:53am
90+3′ Chance China!
China has a great chance on the edge of the penalty area!
It was Wang Aifang who got the ball just inside the penalty area and then smashed the ball towards goal, narrowly missing the far post.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:52am
90+2′ Gorry seizes the moment
That is wonderful from Katrina Gorry.
As Song battled on the edge of the penalty area to create space for herself, the West Ham United midfielder picked her pocket, bursting away and then flying up field to play the ball forward to Kerr.
Brilliant running from the ex-Roar player.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:50am
90′ Six additional minutes
Will it be a nervous six minutes?
The Matildas cannot switch off for a second.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:47am
87′ Yellow card Wu Haiyan
Clever stuff from Sam Kerr.
She uses her body to get just in front of Wu Haiyan and then lets the Chinese defender foul her – taking more time off the clock.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:46am
87′ Final changes for China
Two more changes for China – the final rolls of the dice.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:45am
84′ Matildas keeping the ball exactly where they want it
The Matildas are doing everything right at the moment – pinning the Chinese deep in their own half.
As time ticks away, it’s the Matildas who are showing the more composure, the more mental fortitude to hold onto the ball and keep the Chinese back.
(Getty Images)
Torpey is playing a blinder, assisting Foord in keeping the ball in the Chinese back left pocked but then slips just as she earns herself a sight at an exit into the Chinese penalty area.
(Getty Images)
Can China launch one or two more attacks?
If they are to do so, they’re running out of time.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:38am
78′ Subs galore
Clare Wheeler and Amy Sayer are coming on, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mary Fowler are coming off for the Matildas.
Ante Milicic has also made a double change for China as they look to get themselves back in the game.
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:36am
Attendance 35,170
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
2h agoTue 17 Mar 2026 at 11:33am
74′ China chance
Corner from the right for China, swung towards the back post where Chen Qiaozhu is on hand but heads the ball wide of the target.
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