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Key events
27 Mins: The routine of this game is now well established. The Matildas poke and prod, look to drag an opponent out of position, and then exploit the space that’s been left behind.
van Egmond looks to drive a long-ball onto the head of Kerr atop the six-yard-box but she’s working against several defenders and it’s cleared away.
25 Mins: So the word from the commentary is that Kyra Cooney-Cross is being “rested” for tonight’s game. 17 minutes for Arsenal since Christmas suggests there’s more at play here, but that’s the line the Matildas camp are going with, I guess.
22 Mins: A brief move forward by the Philippines is quickly snuffed out and the Matildas resume their threat once more. A Raso dummy springs Wheeler into some space on the right but her attempted cutback is blocked away.
21 Mins: The Matildas get themselves a free kick on the right, with Catley standing over the ball and staring down a two-player wall.
The Arsenal defender bends it towards the back post, with it just floating over the head of Kerr and getting punched away by O McDaniel. It wouldn’t have counted even if the skipper had turned it goalward, as the flag has gone up.
18 Mins: It probably should be two. Raso finds some space on the right and lifts the ball onto the head of van Egmond atop the six-yard-box but the midfielder’s unchallenged header is sent wide.
17 Mins: Normal service has quickly resumed for the Matildas, once again seizing control of possession and nibbling around the edge of an embedded Philippines defence.
We shouldn’t expect much different. Realistically, the Filipinas were never going to have their knockout phase destiny decided tonight – that will come against Iran and South Korea – and it will be important for them to avoid any kind of blowout that destroys their goal difference in the remaining 70 odd minutes.
Goal! Australia 1-0 Philippines (Kerr 14′)
That’s what the locals came to see!
After nearly 15 minutes of poking and prodding it’s the skipper who supplies the breakthrough! Some fantastic work from Wheeler gets her the space she needs to loft a ball towards the back post, where Foord rises to meet it and head it back across the face of goal.
It finds it’s way to the bonce of Kerr, who almost can’t miss from that range and duly puts the ball past Olivia McDaniel to provide the early advantage.
13 Mins: Catley’s outswinger from the left glances off the head of Chandler McDaniel and finds its way through to a teammate just outside the penalty area. A resulting long-shot threatens to snake its way through but the Philippines are able to get a body in the road at the last.
12 Mins: Not needing to worry too much about being caught in transition, Catley gets down the left and tries to thread a cross to a waiting teammate. It’s blocked away but Foord picks up the baton and wins another corner on the left.
11 Mins: The Philippines have a free kick just inside their own half and use the opportunity to pile numbers forward. Olivia McDaniel’s blast forward, however, is claimed comfortably by Lincoln.
10 Mins: More poking and probing by the Matildas but they continue to crash up against the low block that has been erected on the edge of the Philippines penalty area. After getting hammered 8-0 in the last meeting between these two sides, the underdogs aren’t going to allow similar to happen this time around.
7 Mins: Mark Torcaso is shown on the Philippines bench. The 44-year-old took over the side following the departure of Alen Stajcic, initially juggling the role with his position at A-League Women side Western United, where he was a coach of the year, before taking on the job full-time. Sitting next to him is assistant Riccardo Marchioli, a former Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory assistant coach.
Both of the pair have links not just to the A-League but also the NPL Victoria: Torcaso coaching Calder United to dominance in the NPL Women and Marchioli a former coach of Brunswick City and Hume City.
6 Mins: Need inspiration? Enter Foord. The winger creates the Matildas first real moment of threat when she drives down the left and cuts the ball back, inducing her opponent’s to scramble the ball out for a corner.
Catley swings an out swinging delivery in but the Philippines are able to scramble it clear for a throw-in.
5 Mins: The Australians continue to monopolise possession but, in these early stages at least, aren’t exactly doing much to threaten their opponent’s low block.
3 Mins: A poor giveaway by Carpenter sees Eggesvik grab the ball and loft the ball goalward from well inside her own half.
Now, maybe it’s worth a few early attempts for the Philippines given that Lincoln’s probably feeling the nerves in the early stages of her unlikely start, but the keeper had time to go an make herself a calming cup of tea in the time it took that shot to arrive.
2 Mins: The Philippines clear the ball away and use a throw in of their own to hurl the ball into Australia’s side of the pitch. A second throw gives Beard a chance to gain further territory but Carpenter eventually wins it and the Philippines retreat back into their block.
1 Min: It’s the Matildas who have the opening kickoff and they quickly move the ball forward against what, we expect, will be a very deep Philippines block. Carpenter has a throw-in on the right hand side.
Kick-off!
The 2026 Women’s Asian Cup is under way!
The anthems have been sung, kick-off here come!
Both sets of teams are now making their way out onto the pitch. The national anthems will follow and then, finally, kick-off.
James Paraskevas, meanwhile, has got in touch via email. “I am looking forward to this tournament, especially to see some of the other “non big 4” teams. I have seen the Matildas probably drop a bit in standard since 23. We have had some disappointing campaigns and losses. Tonight should be “comfortable”, but don’t be too surprised if Philippines score a goal or keep the scoreline tight.”
Wait! I do know her! That’s Audrey Nuna, the English-language singer for Mira of K-Pop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X! I take it all back. Give her as long as she wants. The Honmoon must be protected.
The opening ceremonies are currently being staged on the Perth Stadium. Lots of dancing, singing, and lights. “Say yeah,” indeed.
I have no idea who these people are but I’m also not the target audience and know it’s important to let people enjoy things, so I hope you’re rocking out if you’re watching.
Philippines XI
The Filipinas starters are in and former Matilda defender Angie Beard is amongst the lineup sent out by former Western United boss Mark Torcaso.
SEA Games hero Olivia McDaniel starts between the posts in front of a backline of Beard, Hali Long, Jessika Cowart, and Sofia Harrison.
Alexa Pino, former-Western United skipper Jaclyn Sawicki, Katrina Guillou, and Sara Eggesvik occupy the midfield, behind an attack of Chandler McDaniel and Carleigh Frilles.
Philippines XI: O McDaniel, Beard, Long, Cowart, Harrison, Pino, Sawicki, Guillou, Eggesvik, C McDaniel, Frilles.
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Joe Montemurro speaking on the broadcast, asked about the sudden glut of injuries to his goalkeeping stocks.
‘You have unexpected situations that happen in all tournaments. It was an unfortunate situation, we’re prepared to deal with it. And it’s an opportunity.’
The coach also declares that Mary Fowler’s absence from tonight’s starting XI isn’t down to her fitness as she returns from her ACL but, instead, is a “technical” one as she attempts to integrate into the squad and his plans.
No word on why Cooney-Cross isn’t in the squad from his flash interview, however.
If you are just checking in after a long break, it shouldn’t take you too long to come to grips with who is in the squad and who isn’t as, for all the talk of renewal and generational change under Joe Montemurro, there’s plenty of familiar faces in the 26-player squad. Here’s a player-by-player guide of each and every member.
Drawn in by the prospect of another home tournament (assuming you live in Perth, the Gold Coast, or Sydney), are you checking back in for the first time since that fateful semifinal agianst England just over three years ago? Wondering what’s happened with the Matildas since?
Jo Khan and Martin Pegan have you covered with a timeline of everything that’s gone down since then.
Questions about the Women’s Asian Cup or how it works? Jo Khan may just have you covered with her explainer.
The Women’s Asian Cup is a sequel with a difference. Not bigger, and surely not better than the magnificent 2023 World Cup, when the Matildas entranced Australia during their run to the semi-finals.
But there is enough intrigue in the script – coaching frenemies, unlikely injury comebacks, last hurrahs, footballing minnows and mirrors of multicultural Australia, even fairytale romance – that it will hold the nation’s football community riveted. Whether the continental championship bursts out into a broader cultural phenomenon, however, will be one of the compelling questions of the next three weeks.
Jack Snape with his pre-game view from Perth.
Matildas XI
And, as speculated, it’s Chloe Lincoln who gets the start in goal for the Matildas this evening.
It looks like a pretty standard 4-2-1-3, with Sam Kerr captaining the side and leading the line with Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso on the wings and Emily van Egmond tucking in behind as a ten. Katrina Gorry will likely play as an eight with Clare Wheeler behind her as a six, with Steph Catley on the left (not at centreback, hmmm) and Ellie Carpenter on the right, flanking a central duo of Wini Heatley and Clare Hunt.
Perhaps just as notable, however, is who else isn’t in the squad: Kyra Cooney-Cross, who has experienced a disrupted preparation and who was absent from training on Saturday, not even named amongst the substitutes.
Starting XI: Lincoln (GK), Heatley, Hunt, Wheeler, Catley, Foord, van Egmond, Raso, Gorry, Kerr, Carpenter
With Micah and Whyman out and Arnold under a cloud, tonight’s tournament opener could ostensibly see Chloe Lincoln, herself only called up following Micah’s withdrawal, don the gloves.
Capped three times by the Matildas, the 21-year-old has long been highly-rated within the national team setup and has previously been part of two-Young Matildas squads that went to U20 World Cups. She also actually in season, giving her something of a leg-up on still in pre-season Arnold, who is signed to NSWL side Portland Thorns.
However, if not for her longstanding reputation within the national team setup it’s almost certain that Lincoln wouldn’t have been called into the squad, given her A-League Women form with Brisbane Roar has seen her ship more goals than any other keeper – 1.9 goals per game – and been adjudged, per Fotmob, to have prevented -6.4 goals, the worst figure in the competition.
In case you’ve missed today’s biggest pre-game news, the Matildas have been forced to make a late change to their 26-player squad, with goalkeeper Jada Whyman succumbing to a knee injury and replaced in the squad by Perth-local Morgan Aquino, who had already been on location as a train-on player.
📰 SQUAD UPDATE: goalkeeper Jada Whyman has been ruled out of the #WAC2026 due to a knee injury. Whyman will be replaced in the 26-player squad by Morgan Aquino.
We’re absolutely heartbroken for you, Jada, and are sending you all our love and strength as you begin your recovery.…
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 1, 2026
After already losing presumptive number one Tegan Micah to concussion, the absence of Whyman creates a significant headache for coach Joe Montemurro, given that Mackenzie Arnold, who ostensibly would have been the obvious starter in Micah’s absence, will enter this evening under a significant fitness cloud.
Preamble
Joey Lynch
Hey everyone, it’s ya boi Joey Lynch, at last, the moment is here. In just about an hour, the Matildas run out on to the Perth Stadium surface to take on the Philippines and, as they do, will mark the commencement of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
It will usher in three weeks in which 12 nations from across the continent lock horns for the right to call themselves the best of the globe’s biggest continent. Five others, though missing out on continental glory, will at least be able to take solace from punching their tickets to the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while another two will know they’re headed for inter-confederation play-offs for a spot at that tournament.
Australian anticipation, and expectation, is invariably high. After staging a run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on home soil it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the Matildas should be setting their sights higher against the comparatively lower-level of competition to be drawn from Asia – even if a showdown with presumptive tournament favourites Japan looms in the semi-finals.
At the very least, it would take something of a catastrophe for them to fail to punch their tickets to the World Cup – even if, admittedly, that’s a fate that would have befallen them following their 2022 collapse had they not been co-hosting in 2023. And they’re expected to do the job tonight against a Filipinas side that, while chasing history of their own, suffered an 8-0 defeat to the Australians when they last met – coincidently in Perth – during qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
We’ll have line-ups for you shortly, with kick-off set for 5pm local/8pm AEDT.
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