rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
Here we are again. For the second time in three years, Australia took centre stage on the opening night of a tournament down under. And for the second time, they scrapped to a hard-fought 1-0 win. Thanks to a lone Sam Kerr goal, Australia marked the opening of the 2026 AFC Asian Cup with a slim victory over the Philippines.
There was further now-customary injury drama in Perth ahead of the tournament opener. Where Sam Kerr’s infamous calf injury sent shockwaves around Stadium Australia on the opening night of the World Cup, this time there were very public doubts over the fitness of goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
All while her two backups — Teagan Micah and Jada Whyman — had been forced to withdraw from the squad in the run-up to the tournament. It was an injury crisis more akin to the one that befell Mr Burns’ all-star players for his Springfield Nuclear Power Plant softball team. That meant a call-up for Chloe Lincoln. Who went from not making the initial squad to starting the opening game in a matter of days.
Australia dominate despite injury concerns
If there were any doubts about uncertainty caused by injuries, there needn’t have been. Australia dominated from the first whistle and were ahead within 15 minutes. Clare Wheeler’s cross found Caitlin Foord at the back post and she headed back across goal for Kerr to nod home.
There could be no more fitting goalscorer than Kerr netting in front of her hometown crowd.
Then, Emily Van Egmond headed narrowly over before Hayley Raso found the back of the net. The Eintracht Frankfurt winger brilliantly controlled Katrina Gorry’s ball over the top to poke home past Olivia McDaniel. However, just as it looked as if the floodgates were about open, VAR ruled out Raso’s goal for offside.
McDaniel was soon called back into action to repel Steph Catley’s free-kick from the edge of the box as the hosts headed into the break a goal to the good.
Embed from Getty Images
The second half continued in much the same way as the first. Australia dominated for long spells, but were unable to break through a resolute Philippines side.
For Mark Torcaso’s side, their prospect of getting out of the group as one of the two best third-placed sides meant avoiding a hammering was imperative. The Philippines stuck to their task admirably throughout the game. They gave the hosts little to no space to create any clear-cut openings, forcing Australia into shots from distance.
Kerr headed wide and Foord curled an effort into the gloves of McDaniel inside the opening five minutes of the half as the Matildas looked for another early breakthrough.
The deluge of goals most inside Perth Stadium were expecting never arrived. Just as in 2023, Australia were forced to settle for a 1-0 win.
Both sides now make the journey to the Gold Coast for their next group games. Philippines take on South Korea, while Australia prepare to face Iran.
