Philippines 0 South Korea 3
A statement victory by South Korea on the Gold Coast gave Australian fans food for thought, the shot-shy Matildas knowing that only an avalanche of goals in game two of this massive double-header would allow them to draw in the final group-stage game and still claim top spot. A bright, humid and windy day in Robina made for tricky conditions on a perfect playing surface at this marvellous rectangular venue, and a decent number of South Korean fans created a proper footballing atmosphere, their repertoire of recognisable chants and loud drumming making this a real occasion for the local fans.
The now familiar pre-game sequence followed the same protocol as every game so far with only subtle differences, the daytime fireworks not working against the blue sky and the wind making quick work of the colourful smoke. There was a hint of the Marseillaise about the Philippines anthem, while the South Korean tune was more Sing Your Hearts Out For The Lads. The South Bank of the stadium rang out with the Korean fans holding their giant flag, their heroes in the brightest of orange shirts which oddly enough looked red on the big screen. The Philippines fans were sprinkled throughout the stadium, the biggest group in the North Stand, but it was clear which country had brought the noisiest support.
Philippines were definitely not overawed as the game got underway, but their players were definitely believing they had more time than they actually had. South Korea got the first shot away in anger, Lee Minhwa firing in from way outside the area, Olivia McDaniel choosing the Hollywood dive to make her first save when it was an easy one. Carleigh Frilles went in for a crunching tackle to get the crowd roaring, the Korea fans giving it their all behind Kim Minjung’s goal. There was no outlet for the Philippines defence, and they were coughing up possession playing out from the back. They were eventually made to pay by Jeon Yugyeong who pirouetted in the penalty area and drilled a low shot past McDaniel for the opening goal, and it had been coming.
There was barely time to digest that first goal when Park Soo Jeong advanced and curled a superb goal into the top right corner from the very edge of the penalty area. This would surely spell the end of the Philippines’ resistance, and Kim Shinji had the ball in for a third soon after, but the whole stadium had seen the offside already, and the assistant referee’s flag was no surprise when it eventually came. Kim Shinji curled a left foot shot just over as South Korea asserted their dominance, but their flow was interrupted on 27 minutes, the referee calling for a drinks break, both sets of players remaining on the field to take in the necessary hydration.
Philippines had a spell of attacking, Frilles did well on the right, taking a long ball in her stride, but the cross was poor, and Ariana Markey crossed from the left but it was meat and drink to Kim Minjung. We were 34 minutes in when the Filippina chant first rang out, the first we had heard from the underdogs. McDaniel ended up on the floor in distress before recovering to take a free kick, and she was busy again when Kim Shinji lifted in a dangerous free kick. Son Hwayeon just screwed a shot wide after beating former Perth Glory defender Jessika Cowart to the ball, before Katrina Guillou smashed a shot on goal for the Philippines and was on hand moments later to make an important block at the other end. The four minutes of added time proved fruitless and the two-goal scoreline was scant reward for the dominant South Koreans.
The Filippina chant went up again at the start of the second half as a long throw from Hali Long caused mayhem in the South Korea six-yard box. All of a sudden the stadium could sense that the blue-shirted underdogs were still in the game. Angie Beard was sliced down coming out of defence, Jung Minyoung booked, but the free kick was wasted. The Korea fans had grown in number, fellow fans moving to join their compatriots to form quite the cheer squad and they were almost rewarded for their efforts when Son Hwayeon cut in from the right and curled in a left-footed shot, McDaniel leaping to tip the ball over. The third goal came from the resulting corner, a swirling ball to the far post wasn’t dealt with, and Mun Eunju was on hand to steer the ball into the unguarded net. Two Philippines players were down requiring treatment, but there was no suggestion of any VAR intervention. Three goals to the good, and with goalkeeper Kim Minjung playing in the back four, things looked ominous.
Substitute Mallie Ramirez almost lifted the roof off Cbus Super Stadium as she muscled her defender away, but the header was straight at Kim Minjung, but it was Korea on the offensive, Lee Minhwa firing over and Park Soo Jeong going close. The school group in the North Stand were giving the South Korea fans a run for their money, the fans in the South and East sides of the stadium gradually heading towards the back of the seating as the fierce sun crept further back. Ramirez dived to try and con the referee, who was unfazed. The game was slipping away, Jeon Yugyeon and Kim Shinji combined to try to scramble the ball home, but it just wouldn’t go over the line, before Jon Yugyeon missed a glorious chance right in front, her head in her hands as the defence scrambled the ball away.
Angie Beard made a surge through the middle before being upended by Kim Shinji, and the subsequent free kick had South Korea in disarray. A much-needed drinks break on 75 minutes gave the players focus for the final push. The Koreans refreshed their line-up with a double-substitution, and Carleigh Frilles was shown the yellow card for a tackle from behind. Second half substitute Jael Guy wowed the crowd of 2,332 with some silky footwork, but there was nothing to cheer in the front third where they needed it. Jourdyn Curran smashed her opponent in midfield, escaping a yellow card, and when the blonde-haired Kim Minji leapt highest from a glorious cross, she should have done better than finding McDaniel’s hands.
South Korea replaced their goalkeeper, Ryu Jisu entering for the final flourish, and as the fierce Queensland sun beat down on the arena, both teams enjoyed some territory. Natalie Oca took one for the team, slicing down the South Korean opponent to break up the counter attack. Ryu Jisu was scrambling to field a back pass that was way too strong, the crowd squealing as the ball rolled towards goal. An injury to Choo Hyojoo took the sting out of added time and warm applause enveloped the stadium as the three-goal scoreline was confirmed. The Philippines players forgot about protocol with the tidy line-up being omitted from the runsheet, the players and substitutes congregating on the field instead before lining up and bowing to each other to more applause from the appreciative crowd. The South Korean fans streamed to the front of the South stand as their players came to thank them. Job done, and on to Sunday at Accor Stadium for a massive conclusion to the group stage. For the Philippines, they lined up and bowed to three sides of the stadium to cheers from their remaining fans.
This was a lovely occasion, full of warmth and respect between fans and players who had coped well with the muggy conditions. The meagre crowd didn’t seem as small as other low attendances, thanks to the appropriately-sized stadium. A perfect appetiser for the next item on the agenda, the Matildas in town to hopefully dispatch Iran and make more friends on the Gold Coast.