Summary
So another polished display from the Matildas, who saw off a well-organised and at times surprisingly physical Korea Republic. Both sides rang the changes ahead of kick off tonight, and it was the home side that displayed the great depth in their squad.
A fortuitous opening goal got things rolling, with a hint of suspicion lingering over the penalty earned, and converted, by Sam Kerr, but an excellent set piece equaliser from her opposite number Ji Soyun made for a lively contest over the first third of the match.
A morale-boosting goal for veteran Lisa De Vanna was fair reward for her effort out wide, with Kerr grabbing a second just before half-time after a slight defensive error and then a blistering turn of pace.
Emily Gielnik with the pick of the goals shortly after coming on late in the second half, if you missed it - check this out. A terrific mix of power and poise from the forward. Between CJ Bott’s effort for New Zealand against Argentina and Megan Rapinoe’s wonderstrike overnight we’ve definitely seen some stellar goals in the women’s game lately.
Thanks for your company tonight - we’ll have more Matildas action for you next Wednesday as Australia take on Argentina in Melbourne!
It’s a reasonably pleased Ante Milicic post match. He was confident enough in the display, although at times wanted to see a lot quicker ball movement, and still thinks the side could have been a bit more clinical in front of goal.
He’s flagged more changes and more chances for squad players against Argentina, but don’t expect too many tactical evolutions. It will be a case of building from the blueprint they’ve tried to iron out over the past two games.
Interestingly, captain Kerr said preparation was all about the Matildas with very little attention about how South Korea would set up. It speaks to the process of rebuilding confidence in the group, that Milicic has emphasised previously, but you imagine that might change a little against some of the bigger nations in a World Cup context.
Full-time: Australia 4-1 South Korea
90 + 3 min: So a convincing showing from the Matildas in the end. You’d be quaking in your boots if you were Argentina knowing this awaits you in a few nights time in Melbourne.
Korea with so much promise in the first half, but they had no answers for the continued intensity of the hosts as the second half went on.
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90 min: So three minutes added on. A bit of a dip in intensity from the Matildas, but they continue to play out from the back and play with patience in their build up.
Good covering from Alleway on the occasion that a pass does go astray.
Don has fired through a short missive:
Wow. Can you believe that goal from Gielnik. I saw her do similar at Newcastle. Why is she a sub????
It’s a fair point, Don. In terms of players that have really pressed their case over the two Cup of Nations games we’ve seen so far you’d have to say Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso are perhaps the two who have done the most.
And a teammate who’s been given the night off seems to agree. Some strike, that from Gielnik.
I love a confident @EGielnik 💥 you go girl!
— Alanna Kennedy (@AlannaKennedy) March 3, 2019
86 min: Kellond-Knight twists and turns under the close attentions of the skipper Ji.
She’s dictating from deep in the midfield, as we’ve seen so often over the years, KK. It’s a slightly different dynamic with her on the pitch, and the fullbacks look to bomb on a little higher, with the former Roar star almost fulfilling a quarterback kind of role.
83 min: Over 10,000 in attendance in Brisbane tonight - a terrific crowd, and haven’t they been treated to some special goals today.
Korea to their credit are still working hard, as Jeon sprints to keep a ball in touch, fractionally late.
Goal! Australia 4-1 South Korea (Gielnik)
80 min: So close from Foord! A brilliant cross from Gielnik who doesn’t give up, whipping a terrific ball to pick out Foord centrally. But the striker swivels to volley goalwards, and it’s just past the post!
And from the restart, she’s gone one better, Gielnik. She receives the ball out wide, jinks her marker inside out, and then from an acute angle from outside the box she rifles a bullet strike past the despairing Kim and into the roof of the net! Woof. What a strike that is.
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77 min: Big let off for the Matildas! As Korea attacked the back four dropped and it’s an excellent sliding pass to put Jeon Ga Eul through; but her final shot is tame, and well-held by Arnold!
Caitlin Foord now hustles at the other end. It’s getting very end-to-end at the moment; in contrast to the disciplined opening start to this one.
And on comes Emily Gielnik for Raso - who receives rapturous applause from her home-state crowd.
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75 min: The crowd comes to life with a terrific counter attack - Raso has been excellent tonight, and she combines with Ibini, but Kim does very well in the Korea Republic goal to prevent a fourth! Lovely movement, and great energy still being shown from the Matildas.
72 min: It’s some tidy passing from the Matildas, who have Korea Republic very much pinned in their own half, but after some patient build up it’s Van Egmond who blasts a shot well over. Didn’t get hold of that one, the Orlando Pride midfielder.
A terrific ball from the captain Ji, who hasn’t ceased working.
And that is the end of Van Egmond’s night, with Amy Harrison coming on. Alex Chidiac replaces her midfield partner in crime, Butt.
Plenty more legs in the engine room for the last fifteen minutes then.
70 min: Error at the back and Ibini and Raso nip at the heels of the centre backs, inside their own box. An errant back pass was responsible for the second Australian goal tonight - and they’ve almost coughed up another one there, Korea! A good recovery in fairness.
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66 min: An injury respite as one of the Korean players goes down following a nasty knock of knees. Jang is the injured party, who receives medical attention but may yet also be replaced.
A few “oles” resound around Suncorp, as the home fans enjoy their night. A first look at Princess Ibini in an attacking phase - but the defence covers well to snuff out the attack.
63 min: And here are those expected hour-mark changes - the goalscorers Kerr and De Vanna make way for Caitlin Foord and Princess Ibini respectively. Aivi Luik also runs off to allow fellow Queenslander Elise Kellond-Knight a first home appearance in national team colours at Suncorp.
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61 min: A scare for Korea - was that another penalty?! No - it’s adjudged to have been a foul just outside the box, but it’s a yellow card for Park Sera.
They’re starting to find opportunities at will, the Matildas. Kerr bursts through on goal, but within a body of players she looks to pick out De Vanna, but the Korean defence scrambles to clear.
This could get ugly for the visitors - they put four on a tiring Argentina on matchday one during the second half; could they be on the end of a similar onslaught themselves?
58 min: Freekick to Australia - Van Egmond chips to the far post looking perhaps for Polkinghorne or Kerr, but it’s flicked just off the head of the would-be hattrick scorer, at the expense of a corner.
Simon fires in the set piece, but it’s a rare disappointing cross from a player who’s impressed in the absence of vice captain Steph Catley at left back.
55 min: Kerr with a brilliant ball through for De Vanna - she flies clear, the veteran, but it’s a disappointing final effort after working so hard to create the opening!
Almost caught in two minds - to fire left or right - in the end, she rolls a tame effort straight at a grateful Kim in goals.
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53 min: Butt with some willing running, chasing a seemingly lost cause in the final third.
Van Egmond with some sharp feet to almost jink her way through into the box after a clever one-two with Kerr.
That third goal has perhaps psychologically knocked a bit out of the Korea Republic. They were looking decent antagonists for much of the first half, but there are a few heads dropping around the park.
50 min: And it’s the unfortunate Jeong who makes way as well after a slight injury pause, following a coming together with her own ‘keeper.
A big coming together as well between Gema Simon and Park Sera. Thankfully both parties are fine, but that was a very strong collision.
47 min: So confirmation, it is the same Matildas XI that returns to the pitch (watch for a raft of changes at the hour mark, perhaps), but two changes for the visitors who Moon and Lee make way. Two of their better performers, you’d imagine that’s for rotation purposes, rather than tactical reasons.
Second half!
45 min: And we’re back underway - I’m frantically scanning to see if there have been any Matildas changes at the break. Stand by, caller.
So - your assessment of that first stanza:
Who looked bright, who impressed you most?
An email from Phil Withall who offers some short, medium and long-term crystal ball gazing:
Evening Richard,
A few baseless predictions
De Vanna will still be scoring goals for the Matildas in five years time, she has Cahill longevity
Raso will score in this match and the stadium will spontaneously combust
Sam Kerr and Craig Foster will form a new political party and save the world from itself
And dare I suggest, Phil - I find it hard to disagree with any of those. Although a Kerr & Foster political double act would be impressive - provided our Sam can get a word in, that is.
Half-time: Australia 3-1 South Korea
45 min: And that’s all there’s time for. Having scrapped and fought so resolutely for nigh on 45 minutes they’ve let themselves down at the back, the Korean Republic.
Jeong, having conceded that first penalty and guilty of several loose passes has now lost Kerr, and Min, who perhaps could have done more in the lead up to Australia’s second goal, is guilty of soft hands once again.
Still, a roar from the Suncorp crowd. Who in fairness haven’t seen a home side looking this imperious for some time.
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Goal! Australia 3-1 South Korea (Kerr)
44 min: Ach. That’s hard on the Korean Republic. They’ve left the wrong person one-on-one at the back as poor Jeong who’s had a torrid first half is burned for pace by Kerr.
She sprints through with just the ‘keeper to beat - and again Kim gets a hand on it; but can’t prevent the shot from looping in!
A real kick in the teeth, in the shadow of half-time for the visitors! Matildas, well in control now.
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40 min: A bit of the sting comes out of this one, understandably in stuffy conditions up in Queensland. Still, it’s been a highly engrossing half from both sides.
Goal! Australia 2-1 South Korea (De Vanna)
36 min: She’s Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer, but of her 46 career goals, she won’t have too many easier than this one!
Terrific work from Raso, whose energy starts the attack. Tameka Butt with strength and determination to fashion a shot. It’s across the body of Min in the Korean goal, who can only paddle the ball loose. Flying in from the left flank comes the veteran, De Vanna, who tucks home comfortably from five metres out.
A sucker punch for the visitors, who just moments ago almost took the lead!
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34 min: And right on cue, South Korea look to burst through for a second - it’s a sharp attack, and Alleway covers brilliantly to tackle clear, right at the key moment!
It’s a first corner of the game for Korea and would you believe it - a free header!
Hearts in mouth stuff for home fans - what a blow that could have been.
31 min: So a well-contested first third of this one; the intensity noticeably higher than the Matildas’ opening clash with New Zealand. That said, they’re allowing Australia the ball at the back, are South Korea, and then looking to defend deep and then spring quickly on transition in attack.
It’s something to watch for the Matildas, with Milicic professing a desire to play attacking football, but knowing that so many teams in world football are preferring to play reactively.
27 min: They’re defending deeply and with two strong banks of four, South Korea, forcing Australia to probe wide, with very little coming through the centre and ball players like Van Egmond.
A freekick for Australia, and it’s Kerr who gets on the end of it, but it’s hard to generate enough power from that distance. Still, a good vertical leap from the player coach Milicic has already likened to Tim Cahill.
24 min: Against Argentina Korea’s wide forwards Moon and Lee Geummin were running rampant, and its the latter, Lee, who draws a decent save from Arnold!
She jinks well to shake her marker, but it was at a comfortable height for the Gold Coast-born shot stopper.
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21 min: De Vanna now with some fine defensive work. Ante Milicic mentioned the importance of his players getting in plenty of “high speed metres” during the post-match presser against New Zealand, and his veteran winger is clearly obliging in the first quarter of this one.
Australia very much controlling possession - almost double the amount of completed passes than their opponents - but South Korea are attacking with intent on the transition, and almost get through on goal, but are flagged for offside.
17 min: There’s a bit of niggle out there. For anyone who imagines this is just a friendly, with spots up for grabs ahead of the World Cup there’s no doubt that there are 22 players out there trying to impress their respective coaches.
A big off the ball nudge from Son Hwayeon on Claire Polkinghorne concedes a freekick. It’s normally North Korea that’s famous for their physicality, with the Matildas having enjoyed some tough on-field tussles against that opponent.
14 min: De Vanna harries the Korean right back - on this evidence she’s looking pretty fit, a great turn of pace there, and she’s forced a throw in, and the crowd applauds her efforts.
Raso then comes in for some attention from her marker. A big night for Ribbons, who makes her first start since that horrific broken back injury that left her temporarily wheelchair-bound. A remarkable comeback from a promising player.
Goal! Australia 1-1 South Korea (Ji)
11 min: Wowee. And the opposing captain has stood up - anything you can do, I can do better! What a strike from Ji Soyun. She’s whipped it up and over the wall, but then with enough dip to creep inside Arnold’s right-hand post.
How bout that from the Chelsea midfielder! We’re back level.
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10 min: Ellie Carpenter picks up the first card of the day, and it’s a freekick to South Korea just outside the box. It was Moon Mira bursting through, only to be clipped by the young right back. Fortunately there was covering defence, or that could have been a red card!
First real test for Mackenzie Arnold in the Matildas goal.
7 min: And a replay suggests that Kerr had come from an offside position, catching her marker unawares. There’s no VAR in the women’s game (touch wood), and as much as you’ll not hear me advocate for it, on that evidence it’s fair to say they’ve been hardly done by, the Koreans.
Another clever run from Kerr, this time put through by De Vanna, but the visitors’ defence scrambles to clear the danger.
Penalty! Australia 1-0 South Korea (Kerr)
4 min: Oh my. Jeong Yeonga all over the back of Kerr who goes to ground inside the box, and the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
She’s held a long time, but fires it firmly past Kim Jung Mi. She got a hand to it the Korean ‘keeper, but it was struck with such venom, she would have needed wrists of cement to keep that out.
A first goal as captain in just her second game with the armband, Kerr. Game on!
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2 min: And we’re straight up the other end - it’s a long ball to find the talisman, Kerr - she’s through one-on-one but from a bit of an angle. And it’s a fine save! Lovely ball, and a first warning shot for the Koreans. It was a long raking ball and a perfectly-timed run from Kerr. Lovely football all round.
Kick off!
1 min: It’s Korea who start in their trademark red, the Matildas in gold and green.
It’s a first chance to cross for the visitors but it’s headed clear from the Australian defence.
An early email from Murray Henman:
G’day from the noisy end of the ground. We’re all excited for the game and will be too busy chanting to follow your coverage. But have fun.
Ha. Cheers Murray, i’ll allow it. Great to see football back at Suncorp, just quietly. So many of this squad are proud Queenslanders. I saw an interview with Elise Kellond-Knight saying she’s never actually played in front of her home fans and family for the national team.
Four years it’s been - let’s hope Brisbane has come out in force to support the Matildas.
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Matildas will presumably line up with a 4-3-3 again - it’s a testament to how well some of the so-called “fringe” players of this squad have performed that veteran Lisa De Vanna - handed the start here - might be fighting for her spot. It’s a hell of a situation for the star of several World Cups and absolute legend of the game, but she has come off an injury-blighted W-League season. Let’s hope she’s back to, or at least near to, full fitness.
South Korea also rolled out 4-3-3 against Argentina; let’s see if they maintain that tactical system tonight as well.
Our players have just headed out onto the pitch up in Brisbane, where it’s anthems and then kick off shouldn’t be too far away.
So. To some team news:
LINE UPS | Here's how Australia 🇦🇺 and Korea Republic 🇰🇷 take to the field tonight.
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 3, 2019
Kick-off in just 40 minutes! #AUSvKOR #CupOfNations #GoMatildas
📺: LIVE on Fox Sports 505, My Football Live app pic.twitter.com/X8ltYBrx9c
Ante Milicic has indeed opted to shuffle the pack, resting six starters from three days ago. Out go Lydia Williams, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord and Emily Gielnik; in come Mackenzie Arnold, Gema Simon, Aivi Luik, Laura Alleway, Hayley Raso and Lisa De Vanna.
Sam Kerr starts again and retains the armband, but may make way early, depending on performance and the scoreline.
South Korea have gone one better with seven changes. So I guess its oranges v oranges - let’s see who has the better depth in their squad. Inspirational skipper Ji Soyun starts again, but if the matchday graphic is to be believed, this time without the armband. We’ll see if that proves accurate when the players come out onto the pitch.
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But to the Cup of Nations! If you missed the earlier mail, New Zealand have bounced back from their opening 2-0 defeat to Australia on Thursday, winning by the same margin against Argentina. They’re ranked well above their South American opposition, but it’s still a decent result for former Matildas’ coach Tom Sermanni and his players.
And how’s this strike from CJ Bott, for the winner!
WOAHHH! What a stunning long-range strike from CJ Bott! 🔥
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 3, 2019
🎥: @FoxFootball #ARGvNZL #CupOfNations pic.twitter.com/4D8nmjf4Dq
Last time I saw her play was in the NZ Capital Football W-League, where she was terrorising local teams from left back. But she seems to have made a pretty fair fist of playing further afield for the national team.
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Evening all! Or a good morning etc to thee and thine from wherever you’re following our coverage. Logging in from somewhere exotic? Why not drop me a line via email or twitter to let us know.
We’re rather spoilt for women’s football action lately, with the Cup of Nations, the Algarve Cup, the Cyprus Cup and of course the SheBelieves Cup all currently underway around the globe as most of the top nations start to fine tune their preparations for France 2019 in June. Some very impressive performances flying round (*coughs nervously* Japan), none less so than England and the USA who played out a pulsating 2-2 draw:
Suzanne Wrack your eyes on the ground in Nashville for that one.
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Preamble
It’s matchday two in the Cup of Nations and the two matchday one winners, Australia and South Korea, go head to head - win today and they’ll likely finish top of the entire tournament.
The Matildas looked solid during their 2-0 win over New Zealand thanks to goals from Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso, with Ante Milicic’s first game in charge suggesting a decent brand of football, and a balance between the attacking verve of Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos and the defensive stability of Tony Popovic’s Western Sydney Wanderers - both sides Milicic was intimately associated with as assistant coach.
For their part, South Korea were imperious as they swept aside Argentina 5-0. It was a scoreline that was perhaps hard on the South Americans, but the Taegeuk Ladies were ruthless in pouncing on the opportunities presently, especially late in the game.
Chelsea’s Ji So-Yun ran the show in the middle of the park, alongside Jang Chang and Lee Young-Ju. It was a slick, technical display and their battle with Australia’s midfield will be particularly engrossing today.
Ante Milicic promised his squad that all outfield players will get game time during this tournament - will he rest or rotate heavily? Or will he stick with his first-team three of Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond and Tameka Butt. We’ll have team updates for you shortly, but in the interim, boil the jug and plump the cushions - international football is coming your way!
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