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The Matildas’ Asian Cup campaign is off to an ideal, if rusty, start with a 1-0 defeat of the Philippines in their first group-stage match in Perth on Sunday afternoon.
A goal from captain Sam Kerr in the first half saw the hosts secure their first points of the tournament in front of 44,379 people at Perth Stadium, breaking the record for the highest-attended Asian Cup match on its very first day.
Having gathered in camp all together just a week ago, signs of rustiness were evident throughout the game as the Matildas struggled to break down a tightly packed Philippines defence.
It took several minutes for the ball to find Australia’s front three of Kerr, Caitlin Foord, and Hayley Raso, with Mark Torcaso’s side diligently protecting their wide flanks and double-teaming both of Australia’s wingers. Ellie Carpenter and Raso crashed into each other at one point as the team tried to find their rhythm.
The Philippines’ absorption of pressure almost sprung a counterattack in just the second minute after an uncharacteristically loose pass from Carpenter found the feet of Philippines forward Sara Eggesvik, who attempted a long-range shot over sun-drenched goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, but the 21-year-old caught comfortably.
That was one of the only involvements for the Brisbane Roar shot-stopper, who earned a surprise call-up and start after third-choice goalkeeper Jada Whyman withdrew from the squad on the morning of the match, with Mackenzie Arnold still seemingly not recovered from a mystery niggle.
Perth-born Kerr led the side out in front of her home town fans for the first time since November 2023, in what was her last appearance for the Matildas before sustaining the ACL injury that kept her out of football for almost two years.
In the 13th minute, Kerr gave the crowd exactly what they’d paid for. A deep cross from the industrious midfielder Clare Wheeler from the right found Foord at the back post, the Arsenal winger heading down for the unmarked Kerr to power past Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel to make it 1-0.
Kerr’s header seemed to wake up the rest of her side, with the Matildas finding more energy and smoothness going forward for the remainder of the first half.
The Philippines’ left-sided defenders struggled to contain the interweaving Raso and Carpenter, who combined on multiple occasions to send crosses into the box, while Wheeler repeatedly broke through her opponents’ defensive lines and connected different parts of the pitch.
Steph Catley, who started at left-back despite having played centrally for club and country for the past year, also delivered multiple pinpoint set pieces throughout the match, including her own free kick directly outside the box that McDaniel palmed dramatically away in the 29th minute.
Raso had the ball in the net a minute later after ghosting behind the Philippines’ back line to latch on to a long ball, but her toe-poke was called back for offside. Some slick, single-touch passes helped Australia down both flanks regularly, but their crosses and cut-backs were repeatedly intercepted and cleared.
By the half-time break, Australia had registered 80% of possession, five shots and four corners, but they struggled to create clearer-cut chances in front of goal.
The stats only ticked upwards throughout the second half. A double substitution to the Philippines just before the hour gave the side some more energy, but they rarely broke into the Matildas’ box as the hosts’ solid backline of Catley, Clare Hunt and Winonah Heatley neatly dealt with any and all dangers.
Alanna Kennedy replaced the standout Wheeler shortly after, while Mary Fowler – recently returned from her own ACL injury – came on for Van Egmond in central attacking midfield, in a sign of coach Joe Montemurro’s positional plans for the Manchester City star. A long-range rocket in stoppage time soared over the crossbar in promising signs for Fowler’s return.
The Matildas face Iran in their next group-stage match on Thursday on the Gold Coast.
