The Matildas have kick-started their 2026 Asian Cup preparations on a positive note, defeating South Korea 1-0 in a tightly contested match at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Victory Secured by Own Goal
Australia broke the deadlock in the 54th minute through an own goal following a strong breakaway play by Caitlin Foord. She intercepted the ball in Australia’s half, made a darting run, and fed a slicing cross-field ball to Emily van Egmond. Van Egmond sent in a dangerous cross which was headed into the net by South Korean defender Lim Seon-joo, despite goalkeeper Kim Min-jeong’s attempt to stop it.
Crowd and Context
A solid crowd of 37,199 fans witnessed the Matildas’ first win of 2025. The victory comes after a disappointing SheBelieves Cup campaign earlier this year, where Australia failed to earn a single point, dropping to 16th in the FIFA world rankings—their joint-worst historical position.
This win was also Australia’s first over South Korea since their heartbreaking quarterfinal loss to them in the 2022 Asian Cup.
Reactions from the Team
Interim coach Tom Sermanni praised the team’s performance, especially that of Holly McNamara. “She’s a real threat, a real handful,” Sermanni said. “It’s great to have that old-fashioned centre-forward that keeps making runs in behind.”
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He also emphasized the importance of the result: “Critical to win, and to win with a clean sheet makes it even better.”
Goalkeeper Teagan Micah expressed relief at the result. “We just really needed that as a team. That’s a big relief performance,” she said, referencing the SheBelieves Cup. “We said let’s turn things around.”
Caitlin Foord added that the team “wanted to make a statement,” especially with the Asian Cup looming. Despite sustaining a broken nose during the match, she remained in good spirits, joking: “I was pretty embarrassed … but I’m just happy it’s not out of line.”
Dominant Second Half and Clean Sheet
The Matildas showed growing confidence as the game progressed, particularly in the second half, with strong contributions from substitutes including Clare Wheeler, Mary Fowler, and Michelle Heyman. Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley also had standout moments, defending well and pushing forward.
Teagan Micah was crucial between the posts, making a series of impressive saves to maintain Australia’s clean sheet.
Looking Ahead
Clare Wheeler called the win “very important,” highlighting the support from the crowd and the team’s determination to reverse their recent form.
Commentator Alicia Ferguson noted the solid team performance and the momentum this result could provide. “This is exactly what the Matildas needed … something to build on going into the second game in Newcastle.”
Final Score:
Australia 1 – 0 South Korea (FT)
The teams will meet again in Newcastle on Monday, offering another chance for the Matildas to build momentum ahead of the Asian Cup on home soil in 2026.
