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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Joey Lynch

Australia 3-3 South Korea: Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – as it happened

Matildas Group A. Joey Lynch South Korea Aus Australia Joe Montemurro Mackenzie Arnold Hayley Raso Mary Fowler
Matildas star Mary Fowler shoots at goal during Australia’s match against South Korea at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Matildas star Mary Fowler shoots at goal during Australia’s match against South Korea at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Photograph: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

And here is the match report from Samantha Lewis.

Goodnight!

But that’s just about all from me this evening, on a night in which the Matildas needed a win over South Korea to top Group A but, instead, were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw that saw them finish second in the group.

Their path to the final will now run through Perth, where they’ll face either North Korea or China in a quarterfinal at Perth Oval and then, in all likelihood, face the other one at Perth Stadium if they progress through that.

The South Koreans, meanwhile, will face one of the third-placed finishers in Sydney and then, should they go through there as expected, face off with Japan in a huge semi-final.

But that’s all for another time. We’ll have match reports and analysis on deck soon but, for now, thanks and success.

Caitlin Foord now faces the cameras.

“We have ourselves to blame. We had a lot of chances, myself included, and if we put those away early on it’s a different game. We let them through too easily and conceded too easily. So we only have ourselves to blame.”

Sam Kerr is speaking on the broadcast.

“We know we needed the win tonight, so it felt like a loss.”

“There was a few chances we should have put away and would like to put away. Three goals is nice to score but three goals conceded is disappointing.

“[China and North Korea are] both good teams. Hopefully it goes better than tonight.”

Joe Montemurro speaking on the broadcast

“You never doubt the confidence or the fight,” the coach said. “But we need to manage games better. 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.”

He says that his side was careless with the ball during the contest, not getting their spacing right and letting themselves down with their ball speed. He lamented not being able to build upon the adjustments in the first half in the second stanza.

Updated

A moment of appreciation, though, for the move by Korean coach Shin Sang-woo to throw on Kang Chae-rim and Kim Shin-Ji at halftime.

The pair combined to create their side’s second and third goals and completely changed the game when they came on; exemplifying the manner in which the Koreans teed off on opportunities to get out at pace and transition all night.

Updated

FT: Australia 3-3 South Korea

There will be no chance for one last miracle throw of the dice for the Australians, who will end their group stage slate in second-place in Group A, trailing group winners South Korea on goal difference.

In the end, it was the Philippines game that did the damage for the Australians: their inability to convert their dominance and promising patterns of play into a greater margin of victory than their 1-0 win.

As a result, their path to the final will now go through Perth, with a quarterfinal against either China or North Korea next Friday – a game that will also serve as a win-and-your-in game for the 2027 Women’s World Cup – awaiting them.

90+9 Mins: We had seven minutes of added time signalled for after the 90. We’ve gone nine.

Goal! Australia 3-3 South Korea (Kennedy 90+8')

Kennedy has her second brace in as many games, following the ball into the penalty area and, as Kerr leaves it behind, smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

A 3-3 draw still leaves the Matildas finishing second in the group. But can a miracle now be staged?

Updated

It’s gone full-time in the Philippines and Iranian game on the Gold Coast, where the Filipinas have run out 2-0 victors.

There’s not a lot of smiles on the faces of the Philippines at full-time, they know that two goals might not be enough to see them into the knockouts.

Updated

90+5 Mins: The Matildas resulting corner is cleared away with relative ease and the second-phase attack likewise comes to naught.

90+4 Mins: Carpenter strides forward before laying a pass off for Foord. She plays the ball to Nevin who slices a ball into the penalty area and onto the head of Kennedy, but her glancing header is saved at full stretch by Kim Min-Jung.

90+4 Mins: Cooney-Cross drives a ball into the penalty area but it’s too flat and too straight and it’s claimed by the keeper.

90+2 Mins: Fowler weaves one way and then the other but her cross in is headed clear. There’s some space for Korea to operate in if they want it and, ultimately, they opt to take the ball all the way down to the corner flag near the Matildas goal.

90+1 Mins: A change for Korea, as Lee Min-Hwa replaces Noh Jin-Young. One defender replaces another.

89 Mins: One of the great traditions of continental football is playing out: the less-rusted on national team fan being exposed to the dark arts of Asian football; boos ringing out across Stadium Australia as Jang requires some extra time to get up.

88 Mins: Any thoughts of punishing the Matildas in transition look to have been set aside by the South Koreans, who look content to sit back and defend their lead knowing their opponents need two goals to overhaul them in the group.

86 Mins: A sense of desperation is increasingly palpable on the Matildas, as they hurl bodies forward in search of an equaliser.

Van Egmond slices a ball into the penalty area for Kerr but, yet again, the offside flag is raised, rendering her missed shot moot.

85 Mins: A pass intended for Van Egmond gets past her and towards Kerr, who kays the ball back for her teammate to have a shot that is sent well over the bar. It wouldn’t have counted, however, as Kerr was offside.

84 Mins: Van Egmond comes onto the park for Gorry, while Heatley has come off for Cooney-Cross. Kennedy will now operate as a centre back.

83 Mins: Some extended periods of possession for the Matildas now, with Kyra Cooney-Cross and Emily Van Egmond waiting on the sideline preparing to be subbed on.

The Korean shape is well disciplined, however, and Kerr’s attempt to dink a ball over the top for Carpenter to run onto gets away from the defender and bounces out for a goal kick.

80 Mins: Kennedy lofts a ball into the penalty area, hoping that Kerr can launch herself at it and head the ball home. Keeper Kim Min-Jung, though, comes out to claim.

I know Kerr and Tim Cahill are great Australian goal scorers, but the last thing the Matildas want to do is fall back into the bad habit of trying to make the former play like a bargain version of the aging form of the latter as they chase the game. Kerr is so much more than a battering ram to send long balls at.

Updated

79 Mins: There are clear signs of frustration seeping into the Matildas game now. In front of a huge crowd at Stadium Australia, in a game that has been hyped ever since the draw, this is not how they would have envisioned this game going.

Out on the Gold Coast, the Philippines have found a second goal against Iran and are looking a bit more assured in their quest to secure progression as one of the best third-placed finishers.

76 Mins: The Koreans come forward once more. They’re knocking on the door now and, if anything, they look just as likely as finding a fourth as the Australians do finding an equaliser.

The Matildas clash with South Korea isn’t the only huge game that an Australian side is staging with an Asian rival tonight.

In the World Baseball Classic, Team Australia, with two straight wins to open their campaign, are facing off with a Shohei Ohtani led Team Japan at the Tokyo Dome.

74 Mins: Foord picks the ball up wide on the right but her cross is headed away. On the second-phase, the ball falls to Kennedy but she falls over as she shoots from range and shanks an effort well high and wide.

71 Mins: Ji makes way for South Korea, replaced with the more defensively-minded Kim Jin-Hui.

The Matildas, meanwhile, have made an attack-minded change, bringing on Amy Sayer for Wheeler.

70 Mins: Another attempt from Kang – she’s shaping as a match-winning addition off the bench – but this one is tame and sent straight at Arnold.

68 Mins: Substitutes are up and getting warm for the Matildas.

Remember, it’s not enough for the Australians to find one goal if they want to top the group and avoid a trip to West Australia to take on China or North Korea. They need to find two in 22 minutes.

67 Mins: Another attempt at a rapid transition by the South Koreans but on this occasion, Nevin is across to see off the threat of Kang.

65 Mins: Fowler picks up the ball on the left and guides a low delivery into the box, only for it to be blocked away for a throw-in. Nevin delivers the throw, the Matildas work it to Kerr who, in turn, goes searching for Foord. She, in turn, gets it to Carpenter but her efforts to find some space to whip a ball to a teammate ends with a goal kick.

64 Mins: South Korea go short again, this time wheeling the ball centrally. The move ends with a ball lofted towards the far post, where Ko just doesn’t have the room to get her header back around the upright.

63 Mins: A short corner routine from the South Koreans, one that earns them another corner.

62 Mins: With the lead secured, the Koreans look like they’ve primed to exploit the space the Matildas will leave as they open up in search of another equaliser. They’ve won a corner on the right.

59 Mins: Another attempt for South Korea, after they work the ball across the park from right to left. It ends with a long-range attempt but, on this occasion, it’s sent straight at Arnold.

Goal! Australia 2-3 South Korea

Disaster for the Matildas, who just over ten minutes into the second stanza have gone from 2-1 up to 3-2 down. And it’s the two substitutes thrown on by Shin who have ripped their opponents apart.

On this occasion, Kim, moments after converting the penalty won by Kang, swivels and plays the ball out to her fellow substitute, who knocks the ball to her left to open up a bit of space before driving a low effort into the bottom corner of the net.

The Koreans have come out with more purpose and intent in this second stanza and they’ve got their due reward.

Updated

54 Mins: The corner is sent in the direction of Kerr and Kennedy but neither can make proper contact on it. The ball then spills out to Gorry, who has her long-range shot blocked, before a foul is eventually committed by Hunt on Kim Hye-Ri.

54 Mins: The Australians rapidly get the ball forward in an attempt to find an immediate reply and it spills to Fowler, only for her attempt on goal to be swarmed by multiple defenders. Corner.

Goal! Australia 2-2 South Korea (Kim Shin-Ji 53')

Arnold has a history of big penalty saves for Australia but she had no chance on that one: sent the wrong way by the 21-year-old midfielder, on the park for less than 10 minutes, with a superbly taken penalty.

Updated

51 Mins: Penalty to South Korea, Kang’s determined start after coming on is rewarded as she induces a handball from Nevin.

Updated

50 Mins: Our referee has been called over to the VAR monitor. Normally, that means we’re about to get a penalty called.

49 Mins: South Korea have made two changes at halftime, with one of them, Kang Chae-Rim, advancing into the penalty area and sending in a shot that is deflected out for a corner.

Hang on… did that come off Nevin’s arm? Oh lawd, replays show it may have.

46 Mins: The second-half is underway at Stadium Australia, the Matildas holding onto a 2-1 lead over South Korea.

So as it stands, it’s the Matildas that would top Group A with nine points, followed by South Korea on six points.

Up 1-0 over Iran at halftime of their clash in Perth, the Philippines currently sit third in the group, on three points and with a goal difference of -3. Mark Torcaso’s side would want a few more goals in the second stanza to sure up their hunt for progression as one of the two best-ranked third-placed sides.

The adaptions of Montemurro were on show throughout that first-half, with his move to switch Fowler across to the opposite flank freeing up both her and Foord to have a greater impact on the game.

Kennedy’s free roaming role in the midfield and an increased emphasis on verticality in the passing game – particularly utilising Foord’s ability to find pockets of space to break through the lines – helped to get the side going.

It’s not been perfect, Gorry and Wheeler are struggling to impact the game in the way they did against the Philippines, but it’s a performance that has the Matildas on their way to topping Group A with three wins from three.

Updated

HT: Australia 2-1 South Korea

After failing to take advantage of a series of early chances, it looked as though a night to forget was on the offing for the Matildas when Mun turned in a Jeon cross to put her side ahead.

But Montemurro’s side were able to gather themselves and work their way back into the game, equalising just after the half-an-hour mark when Kennedy was in the right place at the right time to turn in a Fowler shot, and then taking the lead just before halftime when the combination of Carpenter, Foord, and Kerr ripped the Koreans apart at speed.

Updated

Goal! Australia 2-1 South Korea (Kerr 45+5)

From 1-0 down to 2-1 up on the stroke of half-time for the Matildas! Carpenter picks up the ball in the middle of the park and gets the ball to Foord as the Australians transition at speed. The attacker then picks it up and starts to carry it with purpose towards the Korean goal.

Defenders collapsing in on the Arsenal striker as she draws ever closer to the penalty area, the veteran attacker keeps her head and plays a perfectly weighted pass to Kerr, who has all the time and space she needs to turn and fire her attempt home.

It all happened rather quickly but it was a fantastically constructed move by the Matildas, showing the free-flowing best that, when they tap into it, makes them one of the best attacking sides in the world.

Updated

45+4 Carpenter finds some space on the right and cuts the ball back to Foord, who, under pressure drags as hot wide.

45+2 Foord goes close! A ball from Heatley is directed towards Kerr and, while it can’t find the striker, it does bounce to Gorry. The midfielder’s shot is blocked away but spills to Foord, who drags another attempt across the face of goal.

Concern now for South Korea, as their skipper Ko, who blocked Gorry’s shot, is down and requiring treatment.

Updated

45 Mins: We’ll have six minutes of added time to conclude this opening half.

44 Mins: Fowler bends a threatening-looking ball across the face of goal but it’s just got to much swerve on it for Foord, who throws a leg at it but who can’t make contact.

43 Mins: There’s a bunch of space open to the South Koreans in transition if they can win the ball quickly – even with Kennedy often dropping back between the two centre backs – but to now, they’ve proven unable to consistently find the outlet that will allow them to exploit these opportunities.

42 Mins: Confirmation that Hunt has gone into the book for the Australians.

41 Mins: A long ball forward finds Park in a dangerous area but the South Korean attacker had strayed into an offside position. Fowler tries to press the Australian’s initiative quickly but runs into a cul-de-sac and the attack peters out.

40 Mins: The Matildas recycle possession and get the ball out to Nevin on the left. She finds Fowler, who scoops a cross to Foord but the resulting cutback attempt is tame and easily cleared.

39 Mins: The Matildas have had 54% of the ball and are outshooting the South Koreans eight to five, with five shots on target to two, across the opening 40 minutes. The Koreans, however, are far from out of this one and have demonstrated what they can do when they’re afforded a chance to get out in transition, particularly when they win the ball back quickly with a counter-press.

37 Mins: The Matildas have a free kick, which Fowler lofts into the area. It spills out to Kennedy at the back of the waiting pack but she can’t control the ball and the Koreans come away with it.

35 Mins: A bit of pep in their step, the Matildas go in search of a second.

Fowler threads a defence splitting pass through the Korean lines to find an onside Kerr and free her into the penalty area. Taken somewhat wide, however, the striker slices her effort high and wide of the near post.

Goal! Australia 1-1 South Korea (Kennedy 32')

It’s one of the most chaotic goals you’ll ever see but the Matildas won’t care one bit, because it’s brought them level.

A scramble breaks out after the Matildas’ corner and the ball eventually falls to Foord, who calmly lays the ball back off for Fowler.

She lashes a shot goalward and while it’s not struck all that well, it is struck close enough for Kennedy to pounce upon it and redirect it goalward, with it bouncing off keeper Kim Min-Jung and into the net.

Updated

31 Mins: Fowler flashes danger signs, smashing a shot into the side netting after being found by Kerr on the right, weaving into the penalty area, and lashing a shot goalward. It took a touch, so it’ll be an Australian corner.

30 Mins: The South Koreans have a free kick on the right flank, it’s sent searchingly into the penalty area and punched clear by Arnold. Jang collects the ball and tires to send it back into the mixer but Arnold is out to claim.

27 Mins: The Koreans almost catch the Matildas napping and force them to scramble back, before a shot from outside the box is lofted somewhat tamely through to Arnold.

26 Mins: Fowler tries to wind up a shot from very long-range but it takes a deflection and bounces harmlessly through to the keeper.

25 Mins: Kerr gets the ball out to Foord on the left and the attacker drives into the penalty area down the left. Her attempts to cut the ball back, however, is blocked away by Kim and the ball then ricochets off her leg out for a goal kick. The South Korean tries to fire up whatever Korean contingent is in the crowd after her defensive effort.

23 Mins: South Korea gets forward again but, on this occasion, Choe’s run draws an offside flag.

22 Mins: The Koreans force a turnover in the middle of the park and get forward. They’re able to get a cross in despite the Matildas halting their early momentum Jang Sel-Gi’s ball is put too close to Arnold and claimed.

21 Mins: It’s not the worst opening that the Matildas could have had but it’s far from ideal: a flurry of missed chances, a sucker-punch goal conceded against the run of play, and now one of their most important players going off with concussion.

19 Mins: Catley’s night is officially ended as she’s replaced by Nevin.

If you’re keeping track, that’s now five Matildas players who have suffered concussions at their last two home tournaments: Raso and Catley joining Aivi Luik, Fowler, and Kennedy’s concussions at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Updated

17 Mins: More concerns for Catley, who has sat down on the turf and called for medical attention.

Courtney Nevin is being prepared on the Matildas’ sideline and it feels inevitable that the veteran defender’s night is done.

Updated

15 Mins: A lull descends across Stadium Australia as the crowd comes to grips with the Matildas trailing for the first time all tournament.

Goal! Australia 0-1 South Korea (13')

Australia didn’t need to wait long to rue their missed opportunities, as the Koreans rip them apart in transition to take the lead.

After a Kerr turnover, Jeon Yu-Gyeong is given the space to charge down the left before, reaching the penalty area, she rolls a delivery across and into the path of 15 gets forward and plays the ball into the path of Mun Eun-Ju. The striker lunges forward and makes no mistake with her first-time effort as she pokes it beyond Arnold.

Updated

11 Mins: Wheeler’s pressure from the re-start creates another high-turnover for the Matildas, knocking it into the path of Gorry inside the penalty area. But the diminutive midfielder can’t make proper contact with her shot and the danger passes.

10 Mins: Foord buries her head in her hands: Kennedy scything a pass down the right for a run of Carpenter, who in turn cut the ball back for the free attacker in her box. Foord, though, can only shank her shot and she’ll know that a player of her ability, on a stage like this, can do better.

Updated

10 Mins: There’s a cheer from the crowd as Catley returns to the play. And probably a cheer in London, as well, as Arsenal fans breath a sigh of relief, too.

9 Mins: The Koreans get forward after the re-start and, with Catley off the pitch, work the ball down their attacking right flank through Choe. Her delivery, though, can’t be seized upon.

8 Mins: Catley is back to her feet and walking off under her own power. She’ll need to pass a head injury assessment before she’s allowed to return to the field of play, however.

Updated

6 Mins: Catley is down with a head injury. As the Koreans moved forward, the left-back got across to get her body in front of a cross from Choe and collected a ball right to the back of the head – sinking to the turf immediately.

With Raso already out with concussion, more head-injury related concerns for the Australians.

Updated

5 Mins: The Koreans try to build something up from the back but Gorry is on the spot to steal the ball away. She looks for Kerr again but the striker can’t collect cleanly.

4 Mins: Australia looks to break quickly in transition, with Gorry feeding the ball to Kerr who, in turn, fires an effort on goal from outside the box. It’s too close to keeper Kim Min-Jung and easily claimed.

3 Mins: Gorry’s return to the Matildas under Gustavsson, one of the unabashed successes of the Swede’s tenure, saw her largely deployed as a creative, deep lying midfielder – as a regista. Tonight, however, she’s been played further up the pitch, in the position she was crowned as Asia’s Player of the Year over a decade ago: as a ten.

2 Mins: An aggressive start by the Matildas. They win the ball back and Foord drives a delivery into the penalty area looking for Kerr. It goes over the striker’s head but the Australian’s high-press wins the ball back straight away.

1 Min: A header from Gorry springs Wheeler towards the penalty area but the defence is able to collapse on the ball quickly and prevent her from claiming clean possesion.

Kick-off

The Matildas clash with South Korea is underway at Stadium Australia

The last time the Matildas played at Stadium Australia? Back in June, 2024, when they defeated China 2-0 in an Olympic Games send-off. Wheeler, who starts tonight, was on the scoresheet that day, as was Raso, who is absent tonight with concussion.

The anthems are being sung and kick-off is imminent in Sydney.

It’s currently 21 degrees with light rain at Homebush, adding another dimension to tonight’s game.

Updated

There’s a lot of Oscar Piastri x Matildas fans with a bit riding on this one.

Updated

Playing on home soil and featuring a line-up loaded with players that are key cogs for some of the world’s biggest clubs, it’s not an unfair expectation that the Matildas win this game. Add to that that, under interim coach Tom Sermanni, the Australians secured back-to-back wins over the Taegeuk Warriors last April and, indeed, it will be a letdown if they don’t.

The Koreans, however, handily represent the best opposition that the Matildas have faced this tournament. Indeed, it’s arguable that the Matildas have only played one opponent of a greater quality, England last October, since that two-game series.

Under coach Shin Sang-woo, the Koreans have rebuilt their XI in recent years in a manner that should allow them to challenge for this tournament and they, too, will be eager to avoid a showdown with defending champions China or their ‘derby’ foes North Korea.

The last time these two nations met at a Women’s Asian Cup? Back in 2022, when Tony Gustavsson’s vaunted “performance mode” went bust as the Koreans dumped the Matildas out in the last eight.

It was a result that, had Australia not been hosting the Women’s World Cup the following year, would have seen them miss out on qualification for the global showpiece event.

This being the final matchday of the group stages, kick-offs across the three groups will take place simultaneously in an anti-biscotto measure.

That means that at the same time the Matildas and South Korea kick off at Stadium Australia, Iran and the Philippines will commence their meeting at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Having dodged thrashings against both the Matildas and Koreans, the Philippines are well-placed to advance through to the knockout stages as one of the two-best third-placed finishers if they’re able to get a win this evening.

While Vietnam, having actually won a game, rank as the best third-placed finisher thus far, the Filipinas goal difference of -4 sees them occupy the other slot heading into this round of games and a convincing win over Iran should see Mark Torcaso’s side through to the last eight.

Updated

Much of the fallout from the Matildas’ win over Iran has centred upon the dangers facing down the Iranian players, with news emerging the day after the game that a conservative, state-aligned commentator in the country had described them as “wartime traitors” after they refrained from singing the national anthem of the Islamic state ahead of their first game.

The Australian government has been urged to offer protection to the players, while there is also pressure on the AFC and Fifa to step in and advocate on their behalf.

South Korean XI

Coach Sang-Woo Shin makes five changes to the Korean side defeated the Philippines 3-0 in their last game, a score line reprised from their opening game win over Iran.

Ji So-yun, Choe Yu-ri, Jang Sel-gi, Noh Jin-Young, and Kim Hye-Ri all come into the side – Ji a former teammate of Kerr at Chelsea and the scorer of the goal that sealed the Matildas’ 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinals of the 2022 iteration of this tournament.

Updated

Matildas XI

After missing the Matildas opening two games with a calf issue, Arnold has been named to start her first game of the Women’s Asian Cup this evening, starting in goal behind a backline of Steph Catley (seemingly at LB once again), Wini Heatley, Clare Hunt, and Ellie Carpenter.

Amy Sayer’s turn in the midfield against Iran hasn’t been enough to retain her place in the side, with Clare Wheeler and Katrina Gorry, the former of whom was, admittedly, superb against the Philippines in the opening game, coming into the XI. Alanna Kennedy remains as a six after netting a brace against the Iranians but Emily Van Egmond has also made way.

Up top, Raso’s concussion has ensured that Mary Fowler will make it back-to-back starts after scoring on her return to the XI earlier in the week, with Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord making it three starts in three games.

Hayley Raso out after suffering a concussion in win over Iran

The big availability news heading into the game for the Matildas is that winger Hayley Raso is out after suffering a concussion in the win over Iran.

The veteran attacker didn’t train with the side on Saturday but Montemurro doesn’t believe that she won’t be ruled out for the rest of the tournament – whichever quarterfinal the Australians take part in set to be staged more than a week on from the Iran clash.

“We’re just following the medical protocols in terms of a light concussion,” said the coach.

“From my own personal perspective it is something we don’t mess around with.

“We just want to make sure that everything’s right and she’s progressing really well but she won’t be available.

“We just follow the seven-day protocol at the moment and we will assess from there but all signs are positive but she is not out for the tournament.”

Montemurro also hinted that midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold would be in line for their first minutes of the tournament.

Having gone from not in the squad to starter within the space of one injury-ravaged week for the Matildas, Chloe Lincoln has started between the posts in place of Arnold across the side’s opening two games.

The Matildas dominance against the Philippines and Iran, however, means that the Brisbane Roar keeper has faced just a single shot during the 180 minutes she’s played, an effort which wasn’t on target.

Updated

Preamble

Howdy all, it’s ya boi Joey Lynch, once more bringing you live coverage of the Matildas’ Women’s Asian Cup campaign, which tonight brings them to Sydney to take on South Korea in a Group A deciding match.

The scenario facing down Joe Montemurro’s side for this evening’s fixture is a simple one: win and they will top Group A and head into a Sydney-based quarter-final against either Taiwan or Vietnam, where a place in not only the last four will be on the line but, also, a spot at the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Conversely, fail to pick up all three points and they’ll finish second in Group A – the South Koreans coming into this contest top of the group by virtue of their superior goal difference – and they’ll have to jump on a plane and head out to Perth for a quarter-final clash with either China or North Korea – two of the few nations that entered this tournament being considered as potential, if longshot, winners.

Thus, while the Matildas’ progression through to the knockout stages was already secured by a thumping win over Iran on the Gold Coast earlier in the week, there’s still plenty of stakes attached to the outcome of this contest.

Kick-off is at 8pm AEDT/6pm KST/9am GMT

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