Australia’s Asian Cup hopes have been plunged into disarray after a horror three minutes saw them crash to a 3-3 draw with Korea Republic in Sydney that has created a brutal travel scenario for Joe Montemurro’s side.
The equation was simple for the tournament hosts who had to beat their fierce rivals to clinch top spot in Group A and a more favourable schedule next week, with any other result to see them finish second.
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And things looked to be going to plan when star striker Sam Kerr scored deep in first-half stoppage time to give the Matildas a 2-1 lead with all the momentum heading into the break.
But half-time was the worst thing that could have happened as a VAR inspection showed a handball by Courtney Nevin which allowed the visitors to equalise, before Kang Chae-Rim found the back of the next three minutes later to leave Stadium Australia in stunned silence.
Alanna Kennedy slammed home the equaliser in the 98th minute but the Aussies ran out of time as they finished second on goal difference.
The result evoked memories of the 2022 clash at the Asian Cup where the Koreans knocked Australia out of the tournament with a 1-0 win, and the early signs suggested something similar was brewing when Mun Eun-Ju finished off a fast-flowing counter attack to open the scoring for the visitors.
But an Asian Cup record crowd of 60,279 was rocking when a Mary Fowler shot was turned in by Kennedy moments after the smoke machine behind the goal went off prematurely following a Fowler shot that stung the netting.
With superstar boyfriend Nathan Cleary in the stands, Fowler was superb down the left channel in the first half as she created opportunities and tormented the defence in her best performance since returning from a serious knee injury.
She linked up well with Sam Kerr who missed a golden opportunity to give the Aussies the lead, but she made amends deep in first-half stoppage time when she coolly converted with a first-time finish.
TRAVEL CHAOS
Topping the group would have made life so much simpler for the Matildas who wouldn’t have had to leave Sydney for the rest of the Asian Cup.
Instead, they’ll have to head to Perth for a Friday the 13th quarter-final against the Group B runner-up which is a major disadvantage given they would’ve had an extra 24 hours to recover if they’d won on Sunday night.
It’s already been a hectic tournament with matches in Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney, with Montemurro and his conditioning staff needing to come up with a new plan to handle this major setback.
Australia will face either China or North Korea in the final eight.
CATLEY CONCERN
The Matildas have a big concern heading into the knockout phase with Steph Catley forced off early in the first half, although it wasn’t a concussion substitution as first feared.
The tournament hosts were already without attacking star Hayley Raso for Sunday’s crucial clash due to concussion symptoms, and they’ll have to monitor Catley after she copped a cross to the back of the head in the sixth minute.
Catley stayed on but was eventually subbed off 10 minutes later, with no indication at this stage what the issue is.
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