I repeat, the Matildas are still ahead. They are hanging in there, chasing every ball and marking every attacker. All the action is happening in Australiaโs third but they are not giving up. Had North Korea been a little more precise with their finishing, theyโd be ahead by now. But are they maybe tiring slightly? Has all this pressing taken its toll?
Makenzie Arnold makes a save.Credit: AP
Kennedy is clapping her hands in encouragement. Hang in there for 15 more minutes and itโs semi-final time. Another quarter-final exit from an Asian Cup would be devastating, and put their 2027 World Cup qualification at risk.
Official crowd at HBF Park is 16,466. Itโs announced just as Australia make a rare counter-attack. Kerr dashes forward and, surrounded by defenders, offloads to Foord who passes into the box for Sayer. She is just out of reach at full stretch to bury it. A rare chance gone.
Australia 2-1 North Korea after 78 minutes
