Japan denies the Matildas after scoring sole goal in final’s first half
Our valiant Matildas delivered a gripping Asian Cup home final at Stadium Australia but could not quite find the only response that mattered as Japan’s first half ‘wondergoal’ delivered the win
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UPDATE
The Matildas have fallen agonisingly short of claiming their first major tournament win since taking out the Asian Cup in 2010, losing 1-0 to Japan on Saturday night.
The Australian side delivered a valiant* performance, but it wasn’t enough to stop the visitors from taking their third title.
In front of a packed Stadium Australia in Sydney, Japan came out firing, with winger Maika Hamano’s "wondergoal" at the 17th minute lasting the distance.
The Matildas had raid after raid in the second half but couldn’t quite find the back of the net and were left heartbroken post-match, with Steph Catley struggling to express their disappointment after the game.
“Probably one of the hardest (defeats) in my career,” Catley said.
“I just think we did everything we could have, we did everything we set out to do and we played against an amazing side. We were brave, we created chances and it just wasn’t to be.
“I’m so proud of this team and so proud to be part of it and to represent what we do and it’s really a hard one.”
Catley said the brilliant strike from winger Hamano was an “amazing goal” that proved to be the difference.
“That’s football sometimes. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
“Look at the crowd and what Australian football’s become; that’s something to be proud of. I’m so proud this team. I’m so proud to be a part of it every single day.”
Sadly, it was perhaps the last chance for the core of this Matildas team to win a major trophy together.
Japan’s win wasn’t unexpected, given their dominance throughout the three-week tournament.
But in the end, the Matildas were left to rue* a handful of missed chances, most notably by star winger Caitlin Foord.
It’s the third time Japan has beaten Australia 1-0 in an Asian Cup final – the first was in 2014 and the second in 2018.
MATILDAS MAKE THE ASIAN CUP FINAL
Sam Kerr was the hero, scoring a sensational goal as the Matildas defeated China 2-1 in Perth on Tuesday night to book their place in the Asian Cup final.
Caitlin Foord scored the opening goal when Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter combined in a delightful piece of team play.
Then disaster struck in the first half when Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold conceded a penalty for obstructing a Chinese player in the box — the penalty was China’s only goal for the game.
Kerr scored the matchwinning goal in the second half in a trademark piece of Matildas counterattacking play with a world class finish with her left foot on a very tight angle.
The Matildas captain celebrated in jubilant scenes as she helped her team book their place in Saturday’s Asian Cup final in Sydney.
Australia will take on the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Japan and South Korea as they aim to win the Asian Cup for the first time since 2010.
This golden generation of Matildas veterans get the chance to win a legacy-defining trophy after fourth place finishes at the 2023 World Cup and Tokyo Olympics.
It was a physical contest against China, with Katrina Gorry, Kerr and Foord copping some jersey pulling and studs-up challenges.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: MATILDAS BEAT IRAN BUT TRAIL IN GOALS
The Matildas put on a clinical display despite playing in pouring rain on the Gold Coast on Thursday night.
Poor weather wasn’t the only challenge facing Australia and Iran – global politics marred the match too, invading the game when the crowd reacted poorly when the Iranian women’s team sang their national anthem and saluted.
In their first match on Monday against South Korea, the day after the attack on their country by Israel and the United States, the Iranian side chose to stand stoically and not sing their national anthem.
But before playing against the host nation last night, the Iranian women sang, likely in solidarity with Iranian civilians back home, now at the centre of the spiralling Middle East crisis.
The move prompted booing from some in the crowd, while others waved flags and chanted “freedom for Iran”, “thank you, Trump” and other slogans related to the death of the country’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the initial strike.
But the show went on in Queensland last night and the Matildas kept their focus on the job at hand, three rapid-fire early goals early on helping them take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Amy Sayer opened the scoring in the 8th minute before Mary Fowler doubled Australia’s lead in the 27th.
Alanna Kennedy then got in on the action, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner from the centre of the box to make it three.
It was all one-way traffic, with the Matildas commanding 77 per cent of the ball and having 11 shots with five on target in the opening 45 minutes.
The second half was much of the same, albeit without the flurry of goals, with Kennedy netting a brace to cap off an impressive 4-0 victory.
The Matildas had a whopping 26 shots to Iran’s 1 and 11 corners to Iran’s 0, in what was one of the most one-sided matches the Australian side has enjoyed in some time.
The Matildas will now head to Sydney for their final group stage match against South Korea on Sunday night. The Tillies must win that game to take the top spot in Group A. Currently Australia and South Korea are level on six points apiece, but South Korea has a one-goal advantage. If the teams draw on Sunday night, South Korea will finish on top, so the Matildas will be looking to capitalise on their home crowd advantage in the NSW capital, where they can expect their fans to be out in force for the green and gold.
MATILDAS WIN FIRST ASIAN CUP MATCH
The Matildas kicked off their Asian Cup campaign in style, with Perth’s hometown hero Sam Kerr slotting the only goal of the night.
In front of a record-breaking crowd of 44,379 fans at Optus Stadium in the WA capital, the Matildas proved too strong for the Philippines.
While the scoreboard only showed a 1-0 victory, the Tillies dominated possession and will take confidence from Kerr’s full 90 minutes on the field.
Kerr kicked off proceedings inside the opening 15 minutes when she got on the end of a brilliant passage.
A pinpoint cross from Clare Wheeler sailed to the back post where Caitlin Foord rose up above her defender and headed back across goal.
As the ball hung in the air, Kerr danced around one defender and pounced as she slammed her header into the back of the net.
The Matildas continued to attack and had the ball in the back of the net in the 29th minute through Raso, but following VAR* intervention, she was correctly ruled off-side.
Raso continued to be an attacking threat for the Australians, earning a free-kick five minutes before halftime in a dangerous position just outside the Philippines’ penalty area.
Matildas vice-captain Steph Catley struck the free kick sweetly but it was parried* away for a corner by the Philippines’ USA-born goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
Australia continued to dominate the contest after halftime but failed to add to its lead despite further chances for Wheeler and Catley.
Star attacking weapon Mary Fowler, who only recently returned to her English club team Manchester City following a knee reconstruction, entered the contest in the 67th minute after being left out of Australia’s starting team.
The Matildas will return to action on Thursday night when they take on Iran.
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GLOSSARY
- valiant: very brave and determined
- rue: to feel regret or sorrow, to wish something had never happened
- VAR: video assistant referee
- parried: held off, deflected, avoided, dodged
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QUICK QUIZ
- Who did Australia play in the Asian Cup final on Saturday night?
- Who scored the only goal of the final and for which side?
- Which Matildas player described the loss as one of the toughest of her career?
- At which stadium in which capital city was the final played?
- When was the last time a Matildas squad won the Asian Cup?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What could cheer up the Matildas?
Losing an international final is disappointing and hard. What are two positive actions that the Matildas and their Aussie football fans could take to help the players feel the respect and admiration we have for them, and let them know that we support them just as much when they’ve done their best but lost as when they’re riding high after a win?
Time: spend at least 10 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social Capability
2. Extension
How does sport bring Australian’s together?
How have the Matildas boosted the profile of women’s sport?
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
SET TWO
1. What could help?
Booing is unsporting behaviour. What are two positive actions that the Matildas and Aussie football fans could do to help the Iranian players feel respected and welcome, and let them know that we have empathy for them at this time?
Time: spend at least 10 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social Capability
2. Extension
When and why might kindness be important between athletes during important international competitions? Use the game between Iran and the Matildas as an example. Think of other examples that you have seen. Use these ideas to write a list of reasons, with examples.
Time: spend at least 20 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social Capability
VCOP ACTIVITY
Girls in sport
There are many sports in which we’re seeing an increase in female participants, including soccer. What sports have you noticed, or maybe joined yourself, where you have seen an increase in the number of girls now playing? How do you feel about this? Why do you feel this way? Do you think it’s a positive shift? Why/why not?
Use your VCOP to express how you feel towards girls taking up more sporting roles. Explain why you feel this way. Use your emotive language to express your point of view.