Australia 3 South Korea 3

This was meant to be a fairytale run of games in Sydney, packing out Accor Stadium with fervent Matildas fans en route to Asian Cup glory; however, as big-time women’s football returned to our shores after a series of underwhelming attendances, South Korea provided the Matildas’ first major test of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and handed the home country the harshest of reality checks. The entertainment was high, the occasion was intense and exciting for everyone inside the stadium, but the Matildas failed to control their possession and were exposed in defence, twice coming from behind to snatch a draw. The polar opposite emotions of the casual and nailed-on fans meant that a last-gasp draw saw both celebration and anguish in the stands at the final whistle, Aussie players with shirts over faces in despair while their jubilant counterparts bounced in delight.

With 15 minutes to kick-off and long snaking lines outside the venue, the famous blue seats of this huge venue were very visible, initial estimates sitting at 50% capacity, perhaps rising to 75% by the time the magnificent acapella national anthems had been brilliantly delivered. This was a football event on a different level, an opportunity for the Matildas to remind the Australian general public that there is a huge football tournament happening in their country and that we should be invested in it.

The now-familiar pre-game protocol was given a twist, with fans asked to stand for the welcome to country, which was barely audible due to the volume being way too high. The anthems, both delivered by the same singer, were marvellous, the slow ending of Advance Australia Fair catching out the supporters, who had already sung ahead. The countdown to kick off was mangled, but we got there eventually, and the game got underway with Australia shooting towards the bank of Korea fans in the south end. The Matildas pressed early on and dominated, Alanna Kennedy with a meaty tackle after Mary Fowler had been dispossessed, but Clare Hunt almost gifted South Korea a glorious chance with a dreadful back pass that was scrambled away by the returning Mackenzie Arnold.

Katrina Gorry was back and was busy, bursting through midfield and flicking a clever pass to Sam Kerr, but she drove her shot straight at Kim Minjung. Steph Catley took a ball to the head when blocking a cross and was down for some time receiving treatment from the concerned physios. The first real chance came for the Matildas when Ellie Carpenter romped down the right and squared across to Caitlin Foord, but her finish was horrid. Kerr and Clare Wheeler then hassled the defence, Gorry with a chance right in front, but Kim Minjung made the save. The cracks were already showing in the Matildas rearguard though and when Jeon Yugyeong sprinted away up the left into space left by Winonah Heatley, she played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Mun Eunju who finished first-time, wheeling away in delight and being mobbed by her delighted teammates. The script had been torn up, and Hunt didn’t ease the situation, playing a ball out on the full to no one in the next phase of play.

When Catley dropped to the floor, there was clearly a problem, and after consultation with the physio team, Courtney Nevin was getting prepared to replace the dazed Arsenal defender. We were only 15 minutes in and there had been plenty of action. The drum banged from the Korea fans, and Heatley played an awful cross-field ball which was easily cut out and sent South Korea scurrying on the break. There was an element of frustration in the crowd, Hunt again with a pass that would never reach its target, Arnold cutting out the low cross to prevent a second goal.

Mary Fowler raced through the midfield but her powerful shot was blocked. Good work by Kerr on the left teed up Fowler, whose low drive was pushed into the side-netting, nearly everyone in the stadium thinking it had gone in. Thirty minutes on the clock and we had our equaliser. A corner from the left was recycled, Fowler hitting her shot into the ground and Kennedy was on hand to bundle home with a fortuitous touch via the goalkeeper’s hand. The stadium filled with noise. The VAR check was completely unnecessary, and Australia were back in the game. Kerr was then played in by a great through-ball from Fowler, but she blazed wide, never really looking like scoring.

Hunt was booked for dragging back her opponent, Carpenter was somehow penalised when her opponent claimed a hair pull, despite the contact being minimal. This was frustrating. Kennedy whacked the ball into the referee after a free-kick was awarded, the Japanese official giving the combative midfielder a hard stare. Fowler steered a glorious deep cross from the left for Foord, but she couldn’t get anything on it. Foord did get a bigger chance, Gorry’s blocked shot falling into her path but the shot was pulled wide of the far post. The six minutes of added time became many more once Ko Yoo Jin went to ground, and Foord fired wide again when Carpenter laid the ball inside. Foord’s luck changed moments later though, setting off on a direct run through the middle from a standing start and playing in Kerr who swept the ball home with a fabulous finish for 2-1. The stadium rose as one, Australia had turned this around and all was good in the world as the players disappeared into the depths of the stadium at half-time.

The half-time entertainment was next level, the crowd loving the live music from Dami Im, and Gangnam Style was pumping moments before the second half got underway.

Unbelievably, a Mexican wave started three minutes into the second half. Normally reserved for games where there is a long stoppage or play is not engaging enough for the fans, this suggested theatre-goers rather tan football fans. The game changed complexion almost immediately, as Katrina Gorry was mugged and substitute Kang Chaerim raced up the right. Her powerful shot was deflected wide by the backpedalling Nevin for a corner. What looked like a simple deflection suddenly became a VAR check, the referee went to the screen and the flailing arm of the Matildas defender was adjudged to have been intentional. Boos rang out. Foord tried to put off the penalty taker, but Kim Shinji dispatched the penalty with ease in front of the Korea fans.

Australia were straight back on the attack, Fowler’s effort deflected away for a corner, but the game turned completely around only two minutes later, Kang Chaerim receiving the ball on the right as Fowler missed her header, but there didn’t seem much danger until she drove home inside Nevin’s outstretched leg and inside Arnold’s far post for a dramatic third goal. The Matildas looked ragged. Kennedy’s impatience was growing, playing long balls when she didn’t need to, coughing up possession too easily in search of a low percentage ball. Fowler drilled a cross from the left which was put out for corner to huge noise from the crowd, but whatever the Matildas tried, it was starting to not work. Carpenter ran the ball out unchallenged, Kerr was caught flat-footed by a delayed through-ball.

Korea continued to threaten. Kang Chaerim had a good chance at the far post, but Arnold made it look easy. Carpenter’s gift to the lip-readers when a goal kick was awarded when a corner maybe should have been the outcome of her endeavours summed up the frustration. Kennedy had a chance to be the hero, running on to a short pass outside the area, but she blazed over. Heatley’s rada was off, two easy passes down the line easily cut out, and impact sub Amy Sayer looked lost, running around like a headless chicken trying to get involved. The crowd of 60.279 was big, but didn’t hide the fact that this was no sell-out, and the patches of empty seats completed the story.

Coach Joe Montemurro was agitated. His relaxed demeanour had gone. Substitutes Kyra Cooney-Cross and Emily Van Egmond waited for an eternity to come on, Montemurro gesticulating towards the fourth official as confusion over the concussion substitute rule delayed the introduction of the two superstars. When Van Egmond finally entered the field, her first touch was to blaze over, memories of her dramatic late equaliser against China in Sydney in Olympic qualifying not replicated, but Kerr had strayed offside anyway. Van Egmond’s inadvertent pass for Kerr, kicking the turf instead of the ball, saw Kerr offside again as the game started to look lost.

The stadium was reaching its crescendo. Kerr was almost onto a stray back pass as the crowd roared, but Fowler’s long swinging cross drifted out of play, Noh Jonyoung now down and the fans agitated. Motemurro looked resigned, tired almost. Kerr reached for a ball, the fans claiming penalty, and Fowler wowed the crowd with great skill to turn on left, but the cross was scrambled away. We had seven minutes of stoppages to come, although there was no announcement of it. The Matildas reverted to route one, and it was ineffectual. Nevin advanced and a flick header by Kennedy sent the Korean goalkeeper across goal to claw the ball behind for a corner. There was a lack of urgency to take the corner, it was a bizarre moment. Even more strange was the ball crew’s decision to carry the ball to Arnold when play headed up the other end instead of throwing it to her, more time eaten up needlessly. Korea delayed the inevitable with a substitution with 15 seconds left of added time.

The equaliser was at the death, Sayer keeping the ball alive with a clever header, Kerr beaten to the ball, but it fell perfectly for Kennedy to thrash home. Foord angrily wrestled the ball from Kim Minjung’s grasp and was booked; Kennedy’s eye roll at the VAR check told you everything you need to know about the concept of the video assistant referee. The final whistle came quickly, the Matildas were clearly disgusted with themselves, shirts covered faces, the body language told the story. The Korean squad joined a circle and jumped for joy. They knew they had spoiled the Australian party and top of the group, they would remain in Sydney for the rest of the tournament.

There was anticipation for the press conferences in the media centre. South Korean coach Shin Sang-Woo thanked his players and expressed sorrow at not hanging on to win the game. Their first goal was to win the group, and they had achieved that goal. Whilst most of the presser was lost in translation, the key takeaway was the targeting of the Australia defence and the introduction of pacy substitutes to get in behind, food for thought for the Aussie football media. Matildas coach Joe Montemurro declined to comment first, not wanting to read the room before being peppered with question. The controlled mess that was the Philippines victory was now just a mess, Montemurro lamenting the lack of control in possession, but conceding that players do make errors and they have to manage that – when his team kept the ball they did well, but tonight there was no momentum.

The additional travel had already been prepared for, but that would be a difficult pill to swallow for the Matildas fans, having to hastily rearrange their travel plans. Emotions were running high post-match at the Locker Room as fans wondered how they would plan their additional leave to head to Western Australia for a second time, and those who remained in Sydney would now be at poorly- attended quarter-final and semi-final clashes at this huge venue.

The Matildas had been exposed tonight, Australian football fans given an indication of just how tough the assignment will be to emulate the men’s team in 2015 and win the tournament on home soil. Time to take off those rose-tinted glasses and prepare for potential disappointment as any one of five teams, Australia included, could be back in Sydney for the final. A trip to the Gold Coast for the World Cup play-off games as a beaten quarter-finalist is something that cannot be discounted.

Uzbekistan 0 China 3

Conditions had eased in Parramatta as part two of this double game day came to life, the heat and humidity giving way to a perfect night for football in the stands and on the pitch. Outside, the red shirts of China were prominent in the stadium precinct and a chunk of their support congregated in the South end of CommBank Stadium to emulate a home game in Western Sydney. Uzbekistan had retreated inside with over twenty minutes to kick off, the Chinese team continuing their warm-up with their final drills in their snazzy training tops with the funky collar, looking every bit the superpower that we expect them to be at his tournament.

Play was concentrated in the Uzbekistan half in the opening stages, but neither team was efficient in possession. The crisp white shirts of Uzbekistan hustled their all-red opponents, the teams traded bookable fouls with no yellow cards eventuating and Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva ploughed a lone furrow up front in search of scraps. Dilrabo Asadova scythed down her opponent and picked up the first yellow. Wu Chengsu got the first shot of the night away from the subsequent free kick sequence, blazing over, and Zhang Xin missed her kick when well-placed as China asserted their dominance. The excited atmosphere was squashed with the first stoppage, Khabibulaeva down on the turf requiring assistance. A ridiculous scenario then saw two Uzbek players on the ground, Madina Khikmatova going in with a tackle and goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova dropping to her knees holding her back. The new FIFA rules can’t come quickly enough to stamp out this rubbish. A fourth stoppage in 18 minutes had the stretcher on for Khabibullaeva, and the neutral and casual fan started to distrust the Uzbek players.

China were buzzing around the Uzbek area, but the defence was always in the way of the shot; this was great scrambling, and the longer China went without scoring, the bigger the belief that an upset could be unfolding. Uzbekistan were meaty with their tackles, Ilvina Ablyakimova became the fifth stoppage in twenty-five minutes, a comical statistic, but the game changed when Shao Ziqin went down under a shirt tug from Kholida Dadaboeva as a corner came in. It was obvious. The VAR check was unnecessary, and up stepped Shao to tuck a lovely penalty into the corner of the net. The resistance was over; if the pattern of the other unbalanced group stage games so far was anything to go by, we’d have one or two more before the break.

Ablyakimova escaped a yellow card when she tripped her opponent right in front of the referee, but when she repeated the foul, the yellow card came out without delay. Lyudmila Karachik joined her in the referee’s notebook within minutes. Nilufar Kudratova was the sixth stoppage in thirty-eight minutes as she flopped to the floor; at least the referee wasn’t reacting to the play-acting until the ball was out of play. All it did was deprive the team of a player as they waited on the sideline to rejoin play. Kudratova gave us a clever dummy to shake off two China players but the towering Shao Ziqin should have scored, lifting her shot to the right level for Jonimqulova to make a smart save. Zhang Linyan didn’t quite catch her shot right, but still tested the Uzbek keeper who got down slowly to smother. Shao Ziqin missed an absolute sitter right in front, firing over from six yards as eight minutes of additional time was announced. She was at it again a minute later, scooping a cross from Li Mengwen over the bar despite being unmarked and she caught a volley beautifully as time ticked away that just flew over the bar. Time for another stoppage, the seventh in fifty minutes, quite an unbelievable count. There was just time for another corner at the end of the added time, and the referee ended the half with chants of Uz-bek-i-stan from the crowd and China only a single goal to the good.

Naara the mascot and the AFC Asian Cup volunteers danced their way through half-time, it was quite a sight, while the Chinese drummer ladies at the other end of the field made the noise for the team in command. There seemed to be more Chinese fans behind Jonimqulova’s goal now and they were vocal. A quite brilliant save by the Uzbek goalkeeper repelled Zhang Linyan’s shot as the second half got off to a flying start. China scored while two Uzbek players were on the ground after a collision, one of them the goalkeeper, and the referee was having none of it as Li Qingtong lifted the ball into the empty net. She was no Paolo Di Canio. There were boos around the stadium at the perceived injustice, but on replay it looked like Ilvina Ablyakimova had pushed a player into her own teammates. The goal stood, there was no VAR check, the referee got it right. Li Mengwen then smashed in a shot from distance that Jonimqulova tipped around the post and China looked ready to go for the jugular. The aerial threat of Shao Ziqin continued and the speed of Zhang Linyan was thrilling for the crowd until she was stopped in full flight by a pull of the arm. The bookings continued, Uzbekistan maybe weakened by suspension for their final group stage clash with Bangladesh with third place at stake.

A mistake at the back allowed Tang Jiali to leap on a stray back pass and she should have scored, and from the corner a handball shout let VAR decide that it should be a second penalty to China or not. The penalty shout was dismissed but China continued to pepper Jonimqulova’s goal, a series of corners testing the Uzbekistan defence. With half an hour of the second half gone, it was refreshing to note the lack of injury stoppages, and China put the foot down, a beautiful cross by Zhang Xin from a short corner right on to the head of Li Qingtong who glanced the ball into the net from close range for 3-0. Stoppage number eight did come, as both teams made changes for the final ten minutes. Maftuna Shoyimova went into the book with a horrible late tackle after she had been wrong-footed, but she looked dead on her feet.

Seven minutes of injury time went quickly, Uzbekistan ventured forward for a rare attack, but Chen Chen remained untroubled. Stoppage number nine used up a lot of the additional time, a player from both teams down receiving treatment. Western Sydney Wanderers’ Yuan Cong looked lively, firing in from distance after a powerful run. China used up the rest of the time with some crisp passing and possession, not shy to go backwards, before Tang Jiali fired just wide to complete the action, the referee bringing a much-extended ninety minutes to a close. The players manoeuvred into position to execute the AFC handshakes with the officials team before China broke away to thank their noisy support.

This gives us an absolute classic to finish the group stage, China facing North Korea for top spot back at this same venue, and we’ll get to understand just how strong these two teams are before the knock-out phase comes around. Is it time to get worried as a Matildas fan? This tournament sounded straightforward before it started, now that we see teams dispatching similar nations by similar scorelines, it doesn’t seem so simple. Get on board! Day off tomorrow for a bit of men’s football at Allianz Stadium before we get back to the big game on Sunday night at Accor. See you there!

Bangladesh 0 North Korea 5

Sydney’s humidity in early autumn is notoriously heavy after a rainy period and today in Parramatta, the scale must have been nudging Far North Queensland levels, the stadium precinct’s tiny trees offering little protection from the blazing sun and most people dripping with sweat. A small crowd made use of the shade in the stadium, the bottom section of the eastern and southern sides in full sun, and the whole playing surface baking in the March heat. This was a David vs Goliath encounter, the might of North Korea against the plucky Bangladesh, who won the hearts of Western Sydney in their first appearance here.

Bangladesh started the game with confidence, but it was misguided and North Korea were quick to find space and time in advanced positions. Han Jin Hong had a chance from an acute angle but fired over, and then was presented with acres of space to turn and shoot but Mile Akter, one of the stars of the tournament so far, made a fantastic stop from point-blank range, the offside flag coming later. Akter needed attention despite there being no collision and was then given a real reason to get attention by Han Jin Hong, crunching into the hesitant goalkeeper in a 50/50 challenge.

North Korea thought they had taken the lead when Kim Kyong Yong turned and shot after a cheeky nutmeg by Myong Yu Jong – on closer inspection, there was potential for VAR to intervene, and sure enough an unfortunate handball by Myong Yu Jong was correctly penalised in the lead-up. Bangladesh did well to make it to 20 minutes unscathed, but they were already wilting in the fierce conditions.

Wang Yu Yong slipped, letting in Shamsunnahar Shams who was then brought down – no yellow card, but it was an opportunity to counter attack that was broken up. Ritu Porna Chakma was lively as Bangladesh threatened briefly, but it was a North Korea corner that gave us the next talking point, Mile Akter keeping out Myong Yu Jong’s header and seemingly putting the ball on the ground with one hand, only for the ball to be poked home to complete confusion. After another VAR check, the referee disallowed the goal, but it was contentious.

Kim Kyong Yong had the ball in the net for a third time, the flag straight up but it looked tight and the VAR check went on through the whole drinks break and was deemed correct. Han Jing Hong stepped inside and fired wide as North Korea went with a shoot-on-sight policy. There was further controversy when Kim Kyong Yong leapt to smash a header off the bar, and Myong Yu Jong was shoved to the ground as she went to challenge for the rebound. VAR did check it, and was correct to do so, and it was a surprise to see the penalty not awarded. Han Jin Hong raced up the left to fire just past the far post and Kim Kyong Yong headed over from a corner.

The trend of the dominant team scoring just before the break continued, but not before another trend – the pre-half-time substitution, Bangladesh making a triple change, their forward line replaced with fresh players and North Korea making a change too. We were midway through the six additional minutes when Hong Song Ok went on a dribble in the penalty area; the Bangladesh defence leapt into action to prevent the shot, but the referee spotted a tug as the Korean forward went to ground. It was a definite penalty, and there was no mistake by Myong Yu Jong, Mile Akter not moving as she stroked the ball home. There was more joy to come, Kim Kyong Yong breaking the offside trap, running on to a searching ball from the right, and she turned to smash the ball low past Akter for 2-0. It was hard to take for the hard-working Bangladesh team, who had ridden their luck and benefited from many VAR calls in the first half, but it was totally deserved. Would we see the first blow-out scoreline of the tournament?

All the spectators in the sun retreated for half-time, the Bangladesh substitutes warmed up in a shady corner while the additional North Korea squad members fired shots on goal in the full sun without a care in the world.

North Korea came out fighting in the second half. Kim Kyong Yong missed a sitter after wriggling clear, Ri Myong Gum romped forward and curled a shot straight at Akter. Substitute Choe Il Sun turned inside and fired a shot in that Mile Akter tipped over, but the offside flag was up quickly. Myong Yu Jong fired wide when she should have scored, again the flag up swiftly to make it academic. There was no respite for Bangladesh, but Kohati Kisku’s tackle on Kim Kyong Yong showed that Bangladesh weren’t going to lie down, and Afeida Khandaker’s brave block to prevent Kim Kyong Yong from rounding off a quick break was top class. Chae Un Yong added the third on the hour, a defender slipping at the wrong time when Mile Akter had committed and Hong Song Ok had looped the ball goalwards. Kim Kyong Yong then rifled in number four, a lovely low finish giving Mile Akter no chance and the scoreline began to look a little cruel on the Bengal Tigresses.

Hong Song Ok should have made it five, showing great feet to break through one-on-one with Mile Akter, but the goalkeeper made another marvellous save to push the ball away. Mile Akter was out bravely to smother soon after as the Koreans threatened to run riot, but another injury saw the players head to the sidelines for a cooling break, the Bangladesh players getting cool towels on them to counteract the red hot sun. Ri Song A smashed a shot just over the bar from a good move and there were moments when more goals looked likely, but the Bangladesh defence was somehow shored up. A fifth goal did arrive in the final minute of normal time, Kim Hye Yong on the end of a beautiful cross by Song Chun Sim with a thrilling diving header and we entered a meagre four minutes of stoppages. Bangladesh made in-roads into the North Korea half in added time, but there would be no fairytale goal to reduce the arrears. The referee’s whistle saw the players quickly shake hands and while the Bangladesh team disappeared down the tunnel immediately, the Korea team applauded their fans in the stands in a lovely moment.

The press conference threw up some excitement. Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler, freely speaking his mind in his broad Yorkshire accent, had no excuses for the result. He described the Korean players as ‘on another level’ and the team ‘a different beast’ – there was no disgrace in losing to a team that was one of the best in the tournament, and he singled out South Korea, DPR Korea, Australia and Japan as teams on that different level. This wasn’t good enough for the Bangladesh press, and they wanted to know where the attacking intent was; Butler was on the defensive and understandably tetchy at the questioning. “Please ask sensible questions,” he retorted with a hint of acidity. There was no such drama in the Korean presser, the questions and answers diluted by the translations, but their head coach Ri Song Ho did say he wanted to win the tournament.

This had been an absorbing contest, alas it was simply a matter of time before the dominant North Korean team wore down their stubborn opponents and we got a result we expected. A horrible day for football was rescued by two willing teams in the oppressive conditions, and the Women’s Asian Cup 2026 had the next chapter in its rich story.

Iran 0 Australia 4

The Loose Moose was a very appropriate venue for the Matildas Active pre-game get-together, ardent Australia fans from around the country descending on Broadbeach for another marvellous meeting of our beautiful game. The steamy conditions suggested late rain, but the short walk to the shuttle buses was in hot sunshine, and the party contiued to the station for the short walk to the stadium. The dress-rehearsal earlier this afternoon gave way to the real thing, fans streaming from trains and buses to join the peaceful Iranian protests outside the venue.

Inside, the fireworks got the attention of the fans, filling the stadium with smoke, as the ACDC-esque bells tolled and the flag bearers marched across the pristine Cbus Super Stadium surface. An air of smoky mystery surrounded the fans, the blue seats of the stadium disappearing as predominantly yellow shirts took their place. This was in no way a sell out, but there was a good atmosphere as the players lined up for the national anthems. Stand, if you are able, for the national anthem of Iran, came the instruction. We all did. What followed was incredible; the Iran players all saluted immediately and those knowledgeable enough in the crowd began to whistle, drums banging so loudly that the national anthem could not be heard. Echoes of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar when the national anthem was soundly booed by the Iran fans in each of their games, the saluting of the players asked more questions than it answered. Advance Australia Fair was a welcome relief.

Caitlin Foord was upended after a crisp one-two with Emily Van Egmond on the edge of the area within two minutes. The Iran fans in the North Stand were noisy, the Australia contingent banged out a tune in response. Van Egmond’s low free kick was well fielded by Maryam Yektaei and we didn’t get our early goal. It would soon follow though, Ellie Carpenter doing all the spade work and Amy Sayer cutting back in from the right to deliver a cross that sailed over everyone into the far side of the net. A Torpey goal if ever there was one. Sam Kerr was next to have a go, played through over the top, but her delicate lob was not quite delicate enough. Following the first injury stoppage for Shabnam Behesht, Kerr was again lively in the box, turning and striking on goal to win a corner. Atefeh Imani sliced one wide of her own goal leading to a criminally wasted corner by Van Egmond.

Caitlin Foord was roaring and she sped onto a fortunate lay off by Kerr and rifled home, but the goal was rightly flagged offside. Iran had nothing going forward, but hassled well, Fatemeh Shaban racing after whoever had the ball in a cat-and-mouse chase. Courtney Nevin lost her footing in the penalty area when presented with a shooting chance, and Kerr could only place a free header well wide. The blue of the stadium seating was still visible when a long cross from Foord was only palmed away by Yektaei and Mary Fowler applied the sole of her foot to turn the ball home slowly for 2-0, the goal subjected to a lengthy VAR check but with no reason given. Of course it was a goal, despite Yektaei lying on the ground needing attention for her pulled heartstring.

The Active fans bounced to the beat of the drum as the Iranian keeper was seen to, the Iran fans who had been in full protest mode outside the stadium, making themselves heard with drum and voice from different parts of the arena. Carpenter and Kerr combined straight from the restart and only a last-ditch clearance saved Iran from further damage. Alanna Kennedy was next though, Kerr and Van Egmond teeing her up for a rasping shot from inside the penalty area that gave Yektaei no chance. The keeper pulled off a glorious save soon after, Carpenter lining one up from distance that took a heavy deflection, and Carpenter then found Kerr in the area in space, but her control let her down. This was one-way traffic, as expected, the Matildas just stronger and more skilful than their meek opponents. Foord missed a sitter at the far post after Carpenter drove a cross acros te defence, somehow not sorting her feet out and blazing over.

Iran went to the bench well before the break, a line of six defenders now, the Iranian fans in the main stand making a din, but Amy Sayer silenced them, playing in a direct ball to Kerr who did the rest from a tricky angle, the spectre of VAR bringing exasperated gasps from the crowd who had endured it with every goal so far. This one looked close to the naked eye in real time, and indeed was ruled out for the faintest of offsides. The Matildas were pegged back to three, and had seven minutes of added time to find more goalscoring opportunities. Clare Hunt smashed one in from distance that Yektaei did well to parry, Kerr headed over from the corner, but Iran were battling hard, making the most of the international spotlight. Foord’s cross from the right was just too hard for Kerr, who got her boot to it but only over the bar. The drum was joined by whistles and Iran were making themselves heard. No time for sentiment though from the Matildas, and they poured forward with no return, three goals the reward for their endeavour at the halfway stage.

The saxophone was well received at half time as the active fans bounced along to some sax-heavy classics; this was a lot of fun and the crowd was animated as the lights dimmed and the music roared. The Matildas squad warmed up through the pulsating lights, Vanessa Amorosi’s 2000 Olympics tune capping off a superb half time, while there was no sign of any Iranian players. The starting eleven came out early after half time, the field full of Australia players. The Iran team came out gingerly as if they were walking into a storm. After all that, the kick off was delayed, giving the Iranian drummer an opportunity to get the beat going again. We had been waiting for Mona Hamoudi who eventually joined the throng, typing up her shoelaces to delay the start even further to the ire of the crowd.

Golnoosh Khosravi was harshly penalised for handball, the ball bouncing onto her arm in a totally natural position, and by the letter of the law it should never have even been considered. The annulment of the penalty stoked up the crowd, who had been annoyed already by Video Assistant all the way through the first period. Carpenter put her laces through the ball when she got a lucky ricochet, substitute goalkeeper Raha Yazdani right behind the fierce shot. Sayer tested Yazdani again, before Charlie Rule was penalised for a trip after a misunderstanding. The resulting free-kick was fired just wide by Fatemeh Pasandideh as Australia showed a chink in their armour.

Again the drums and whistles rose above the Oi Oi Oi, Iran making themselves heard. The inevitable injury stoppages peppered the game, but there was little sympathy. Sayer took a corner from the right when Sara Didar was off receiving treatment and Kennedy rose to power home a free header for four. Australia then mixed up the line-up, Hayley Raso for Kerr, Remy Siemsen on for Foord and Fowler making way for Holly McNamara. It was a bold move, designed to bring more hunger into the team, but the benefits were not immediately obvious. Hunt’s shot from outside the area took a deflection and bounced onto the top of the net, but play was again stopped for an Iran injury, this time the stretcher out to cart off Pasandideh who had gone down in a challenge with Carpenter.

Kaitlyn Torpey came on with Steph Catley, Hunt and Carpenter making way. Raso copped a clearance to the face that had the crowd wincing as one. Always Raso! She came through the concussion test and was back on the field within 30 seconds. Siemsen slashed at a high ball, before yet another Iranian injury stopped play, this time goalkeeper Yazdai with some nonsense after seeing a ball wide. The Mexican Wave was underway with ten minutes to go as minds wandered and the spectacle seemed to be over. The rain lashed down, the drums continued, the all-white clad Iranians continued to drop to the ground. It was frustrating to see, any contact sending the players to the floor, the crowd not buying the histrionics even if they may have been justified. This was now just a party in a stadium, the football taking second stage to the crowd noises, bang bang bang “Iran” went the crowd, jokes were flying around of 20 minutes added time, but we only got 11.

Raso poked one at the keeper when she rushed a shot, Nevin blazed over from distance, Australia didn’t look like getting the all important fifth goal until Sayer tested Yazdani from distance, the goalkeeper fumbling the ball wide. Raso was in the wars again, copping another close-range ball to the face leaving her on the ground in disrepair. This time she wasn’t moving too well, Michelle Heyman warming up as a concussion sub just in case, and we got to see the Canberra flyer for the final moments of added time. Sayer wasted a good opportunity, paying a nothing ball straight to Yazdani, and that was it, the thirteen minutes of added time not enough to get the safety of a fifth goal.

The players stuck to the plan of the neat handshakes in the centre circle, the Matildas then moving into their whole-squad huddle where a rain-drenched Joe Montemurro addressed his troops. The players then headed around for a lap and a wave, keeping their distance as they always do in tournament football. This had been a good performance against a frustrating opponent, Chloe Lincoln had barely had a touch. Australia wer short one goal, but with a big game to come on Sunday.

The AFC officials are meticulous with their press conferences, chairs in the right place, microphones precisely positioned, name plates square on. The Iranian coach Marziyeh Jafari gave us little to work with, the difficulty in translation diluting every question and answer. Journalists were told to stick to the script. Only football. Questioned why the second choice goalkeeper didn’t make it onto the field, there was no answer, the question of the morale of the players was simply ignored. When a Persian journalist asked a question in his native tongue, he was immediately shut down, and the microphone taken away when whe refused to continue in English.

Alanna Kennedy was the player of the match – the tried and tested scorer of the most goals in the winning team. The aim had been to win and that’s what they had done. Joe Montemurro was happy that his team was growing into the tournament, the quick turnaround was in their favour, but they could always improve. The number six role was discussed, Australia having an embarrassment of riches in that position, but Kennedy knew she had to keep it simple. Hayley Raso’s condition wasn’t known, but she was being assessed, but there were no injuries.

The main takeaway from this post-match chat was that Montemurro doesn’t adhere to the Russian roulette of goals scored and goal difference. Australia will be playing to win on Sunday. It’s business as usual and Sunday will be an exciting game with two teams who want to dominate. Let’s take that mantra and get the job done in front of a huge crowd in Sydney. See you all there!