Women’s Asian Cup: Matildas set to return to Perth for quarter-final after drawing 3-3 with South Korea

The Matildas are headed back to Perth for a Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final after they were held to a 3-3 draw by South Korea at Stadium Australia to condemn them to second spot in Group A. Australia’s campaign will return to where it began for a last-eight encounter against one of China or North Korea on Friday night, and potentially a semifinal should the Matildas prevail in that encounter against Group B’s runner-up. But there will be slightly less positivity around their silverware hopes than the buzz which greeted their arrival in WA more than a week ago after a topsy-turvy performance against a clinical South Korean outfit. There are also fears for vice-captain Steph Catley after the Arsenal star was forced off with a suspected concussion, just days after winger Hayley Raso was ruled out of the Korea clash with the same ailment. It was not just Catley who was seeing stars when Mun Eu-Ju took the air out of Stadium Australia with a 13th-minute strike. The Matildas appeared to lose their way before Alanna Kennedy punched home an equaliser from close-range and Sam Kerr handed her side the lead in the shadows of half-time. But the game tilted on its axis when Matildas left-back Courtney Nevin fell victim to an unlucky handball ruling shortly after the restart and Kim Shin-Ji drew her side level from the spot — and not long after Kang Chae-Rim beat the returning Mackenzie Arnold with a well-placed strike. Kennedy’s second strike of the game — deep into injury-time — and fourth of the tournament made things interesting late, but Korea held on. “You never doubt the fight, you never doubt the confidence in the fight, but we need to manage games better,” coach Joe Montemurro said on Paramount+. “We were very patchy tonight and when you play against a quality team, and they can retain the ball, you’re not going to get the result you want. “We were just careless in certain things. We didn’t get our distances right. Probably the ball speed was a bit too slow at times. “It’s a pity because, the first half especially, we adjusted it tactically, and it worked. Then the second half, the whole idea was to manage the game, and we got ourselves caught.” Needing a win to go finish top of the group and ensure a Sydney stay for the quarter-final, the Matildas were left to rue early misses by Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry within a minute of one another when they fell victim to an incisive Korean break. Winonah Heatley’s miscued pass was pounced upon in midfield, and a flowing counter ended with Jeon Yu-Gyeong picking out Mun with a great ball — and Arnold picking the ball out of her own net. When it rains, it often pours, and in the damp Sydney conditions, the Matildas lost Catley as the left-back struggled to overcome the after-effects of an earlier blow to the head. The Matildas looked rattled, with centre-backs Heatley and Clare Hunt appearing panicked as the visitors began to control proceedings, Ji So-Yun and Jung Min-Young bossing the middle of the park. In truth, Australia’s equaliser felt like it came out of nothing, but in reality it came partly due to the wizardry of Mary Fowler, whose quick footwork conjured up some space for her to fire low at goal. While Kim Min-Jung managed to tip it round the post, Korea failed to clear their lines from the resultant corner and Kennedy bundled the ball home to draw her country level. Kerr should have done better when Fowler played her in with a delightful through ball, but made amends in stoppage time when Foord ploughed forward and teed up her skipper to sweep home the go-ahead goal. The Koreans’ two half-time substitutes wasted little time in turning the game on its head as Chae-Rim surged forward in the 49th minute and while her shot was tipped away by Arnold, the Video Assistant Referee noticed the ball had ricocheted off Nevin’s arm. Shin-Ji duly dispatched the penalty, and then three minutes later, Chae-Rim got herself on the scoresheet with a well-struck attempt which eluded Arnold’s reach. Not the first time of the night, the Matildas looked shaken, rather than stirred into action and with Chae-Rim thriving on the right, South Korea were emboldened. As the clock ticked away, Australia went more direct, but Korea’s defence held firm, while their gamesmanship rankled both players and fans alike. Kennedy’s late, late strike made for a grandstand finish, but it came too little, too late.