It had to be Kerr! Magical moment sends Matildas into home Asian Cup final

It had to be Kerr.

Hometown hero Sam Kerr sent the Matildas into a home Women’s Asian Cup final, scoring the winner in a 2-1 thriller over China at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs China Women’s Asian Cup semi-final stats

Australia will head to Sydney and face either Japan or South Korea in Saturday night’s final, trying to win their second Asian Cup crown (2010).

There was no repeat of the 2023 World Cup’s semi-final heartbreak with the Matildas to play for their first major trophy under coach Joe Montemurro.

Caitlin Foord had put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes following some Mary Fowler magic in the build-up.

But the reigning champions then levelled things up 10 minutes later through a controversial penalty with Mackenzie Arnold judged to have taken down Zhang Linyan’s trailing leg.

The taller and stronger Chinese side made it physical with Aifang Wang narrowly avoiding what looked like a warranted first-half red card.

But Kerr broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when she ran around the keeper and slotted it home on a very tight angle.

The Matildas then dealt with the pressure of the final half-hour brilliantly, with Kaitlyn Torpey particularly impressive as they burned time off the clock.

It is the fifth Asian Cup final for Australia. They beat North Korea on penalties in 2010, while losing to China in 2006, and to Japan in 2014 and 2018.

Matildas XI: Arnold (GK), Hunt, Catley, Torpey, Foord, Fowler, Kennedy, Gorry, Kerr (c), Carpenter, Cooney-Cross

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