Sam Kerr will be wishing she could play in her native Perth every week. Whether it’s fresh Western Australian air, preparing at a training facility named in her honour or the adoring home crowd, the Australian captain just loves playing at home.
The good news for Kerr and Australia is she will get to do that again in just four days time, after Australia edged past a stubborn DPR Korea outfit 2-1 in front of 16,466 at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Friday evening, but not before surviving a massive scare.
In what was a surprise quarter-final pairing, given both were favorites to top their respective group, the stakes couldn’t have been any higher. Not only would a win provide passage through to the final four, it would also secure automatic qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
An early strike from Alanna Kennedy in just the ninth minute, remarkably her fifth goal of the tournament, perhaps gave Australia a false sense of security against the side ranked ninth in the official FIFA world rankings.
Because, despite having the advantage, Joe Montemurro’s side spent the remainder of the first half on the back foot as Ri Song-Ho’s side overwhelmed the Matildas, dominating not just possession but territory and chances on goal.
Were it not for the post denying Hong Song-Ok on the stroke of half-time, they at least would’ve gone into the break level.
Australia capitalised on that lucky break just minutes into the second half when Kerr made Kim Song-Gyong pay full freight for her errant back pass, intercepting her under-hit pass and finishing first time on her left foot to double Australia’s lead and give them all important breathing space.
It was needed, too, as DPR Korea only doubled their efforts, placing raid after raid on the Australia goal before finally finding the breakthrough in the 65th minute when Chae Un-Yong turned home a perfect cut back from Kim Kyong-Yong.
But despite throwing the kitchen sink – and then some – Australia and Mackenzie Arnold in goal stood resolute. But it took everything they had.
DPR Korea enjoyed more than 60 percent possession, had 21 shots to four, 44 crosses to five, nine corners to one and a staggering 106 final third entries. Despite all of that, the one stat that mattered read Australia 2, DPR Korea 1.
Quite how they didn’t walk away victors will remain a mystery, and the shocked look on their faces at full-time suggests this will be a loss that will take some time to process.
WHAT WE LEARNED
DPR Korea are back as a force: Despite the loss, make no mistake – DPR Korea are back as a force in women’s football. As the current U17 and U20 World Cup champions, that seems a rather obvious statement but having been absent from this continental stage for a remarkable 16 years, there was a sense of the unknown around Ri Song-Ho’s side, but every question we had has been answered.
From here you’d expect they qualify comfortably for next year’s Women’s World Cup through the Play-In tournament on the Gold Coast next week and then expect them to make an impact in Brazil when they get there.
Australia shows much-needed resilience: Sometimes you just have to win ugly. After conceding three against Korea Republic in Sydney on Sunday in a sloppy display that cost them top spot in the group, Joe Montemurro’s side showed they still had the fight in them.
It was a backs-to-the-wall performance, but one that will instil plenty of belief into the side as they prepare for a second semi-final on home soil in a matter of years.
WHAT THEY SAID
Caitlyn Torpey – Australia: “I honestly just didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself, I wanted to enjoy the moment. I got to play in a quarter final of an Asian Cup. Not many people can say that and I felt very fortunate to do that, but I was ready for it and I’ve been training like I’m ready to play whenever I get the opportunity and that’s hopefully what I showed today.
“I can’t even describe the feelings, when the final whistle went I started tearing up. I was probably sobbing actually , but I honestly don’t know if I’ve felt like that after a game before. It felt so good and it felt like we really fought for that win. I am so happy I can’t even describe the feelings I’m feeling right now.
“They were such a good team, they were quality and we had to put up a fight. I think everyone wanted it so bad. I don’t know if I’ve felt that with a team before, every single break we pumped each other up, we were getting around each other. Everyone wanted it and that was the difference today, we fought with our lives.”
Joe Montemurro – Australia coach: “Let’s be honest and realistic, they’re the best team in the tournament. They play great football. We knew that, we knew we’d be pinned down a little bit. We just tried to stop areas in midfield, when we were successful at that we were good.
“But at times we left ourselves a little bit exposed, we had a bit of a game plan and this is tournament football and you have to find ways to win games.
“Let’s be honest, we had to do a different type of football, a football that isn’t great but as I said its tournament football and we have to find ways (to win).
WHAT COMES NEXT
Australia will remain in Perth ahead of next Tuesday’s semi-final against either China or Chinese Taipei, with that clash to take place in Perth tomorrow afternoon, giving Australia a crucial advantage of an extra day’s rest.
DPR Korea, meanwhile, will now travel to the Gold Coast to play in the Play-In Tournament against the loser of tomorrow’s clash between China and Chinese Taipei to decide the final two spots for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
