Key events
71 mins: More changes for the Matildas with Mary Fowler entering the attack. South Korea won’t be too displeased to see Caitlin Foord making way, after the forward has been a class above this evening and showed how easily she can turn a game when in full flight.
69 mins: Caitlin Foord collects, spins and releases the ball in one action to find Tameka Yallop on her own on the left side of the box. Yallop has time to pick her spot but shoots straight at keeper Kim Minjung. The Matildas keep the door open.
66 mins: Torpey almost makes an immediate impact as she takes on the South Korea defence. The 25-year-old must have been narrowly onside as the flag stays down but is unable to complete the play.
63 mins: Mass changes for the Matildas. A shame to see Holly McNamara make way along with Wini Heatley and Jamilla Rankin. Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Wheeler and Courtney Nevin join the fun.
61 mins: Steph Catley forces a gap down the left side as the Matildas skipper is pushed, pulled, grabbed by the shirt and still almost finds space for a cross before running out of road.
59 mins: The Matildas have been forced to take a seat under several robust challenges this evening but this time it appears to be cramp as Jamilla Rankin takes a breather. Substitutes coming soon.
56 mins: The Matildas celebrate with Emily van Egmond but the veteran midfielder is unlikely to be awarded the goal. The flowers should really go to Caitlin Foord anyway, with the attacker’s control at pace while charging through the midfield putting fear in the backtracking South Korea defence to set up the shot.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 South Korea (Seonjoo og ’54)
South Korea push forward for the first time in the half but that quickly allows the Matildas to stretch the field going back the other way. Foord carries the ball through the midfield, releases van Egmond all alone on her left for a long cross that is deflected into the far top corner despite a desperate dive from South Korea keeper Kim Minjung.
51 mins: The Matildas have begun the second half in much the same manner as they did the first – full of energy with a high press proving difficult to break through.
49 mins: McNamara picks up where she left off in the first half as one-touch passing from Catley and then van Egmond releases the young attacker in the box. The darting cross can’t find feet as it sails through and beyond the six-yard box.
47 mins: Catley’s free kick causes chaos in the box but the South Korea defence gradually get the scramble back under control.
46 mins: The second half begins and almost immediately hearts are in Matildas mouths as Kyra Cooney-Cross crashes heavily to the turf. The midfielder takes quite some time to get to her feet but eventually we are back under way.
South Korea have had more of the possession at 57-43% while the Matildas have edged the shots on goal 5-4 as both sides have directed two on target. But it is the increased action in near the opposition goal that will please interim coach Tom Sermanni, with the Matildas clearly in front 10-3 for touches in the box and spending considerably more time in their attacking third.
Now to find a way to turn that territorial advantage into a goal threat, whether with or without key playmaker Mary Fowler in the second half.
Half-time: Australia 0-0 South Korea
A half of swinging momentum comes to a close after the Matildas made a bright start while keeping the South Korea defence stranded in a low block, but then handed back the impetus following a head knock to attacker Caitlin Foord. South Korea had their chances from there without quite troubling Matildas keeper Teagan Micah.
Foord had arguably the best chance of the game so far on the cusp of half-time after being set free by Holly McNamara but only seeing her shot wafted away. McNamara has shaken the South Korea defence with her blistering speed even while the stalemate feels like the right scoreline at the break.
46 mins: A wonderful ball from Holly McNamara releases Caitlin Foord charging into the penalty box. The Matildas attacker takes the shot early and aims high towards the far post but it is a comfortable height for the South Korea keeper.
44 mins: Grant gives the ball away again then is fortunate to avoid a caution after leaning into a challenge. The right-back is full of gusto at the moment but might appreciate the break.
42 mins: The Matildas are back to pressing as the clock ticks down towards half-time. That forces an error as Grant bursts forward to intercept a limp South Korea pass but immediately gives the ball back.
40 mins: South Korea have a foothold in the game now with the Matildas doing little to threaten since Foord went down after a head clash. Charli Grant takes on a pair of South Koreans down the right and almost gets a cross in before running out of room as the ball trickles out for a goal kick.
38 mins: Foord has had enough of waiting and watching as the pacey forward charges into the South Korea defence to force a long ball out from the keeper.
36 mins: Sloppy passing from both sides keeps the ball flipping back and forth before the Matildas settle back into a 4-4-2 and South Korea knock it around the back under little pressure. Let’s hope this is the calm before the storm with 10 minutes still left in the half.
34 mins: Signs of fatigue as the game opens up at both ends of the pitch. Holly McNamara races away from the South Korea defence but is unable to find a path closer to goal.
32 mins: Matildas fans hardly be to reminded of the danger that Ji Soyung can present, after she scored the match-winner in the quarter-final clash at the last Asian Cup, as the South Korea veteran has another shot on goal.
30 mins: South Korea have the first shot on target as Ji Soyun almost returns to haunt the Matildas with a strike from outside the box. Micah dives low to her right to collect.
28 mins: South Korea keep pressing forward but even after stretching the Matildas defence are unable to truly test shotstopper Teagan Micah.
26 mins: The break in play has worked well for South Korea as they enjoy their first extended spell of possession. The Matildas are still dropping into a 4-4-2 without the ball, but closer to a 3-3-4 when on the attack.
24 mins: Foord is back on her feet and standing on the wrong side of the sideline as play resumes. The Matildas attacker has made a bright start and looks itching to return to the fray.
23 mins: Mary Fowler is among the substitutes warming up on the sidelines with Caitlin Foord’s nose still gushing blood.
21 mins: Caitlin Foord goes to ground after a coming together with South Korea’s Choe Yuri. A clash of heads leaves Foord on the turf and needing attention for a nose bleed.
20 mins: Matildas keeper Teagan Micah is called into action for the first time but comfortably collects a tame shot.
18 mins: An exquisite back heel from Kyra Cooney-Cross opens up the South Korea defence as the midfielder finds Wini Heatley in the box. The young defender tries to wrap a left boot around the ball but another shot is blocked. Promising signs for the Matildas but they are yet to take full advantage.
16 mins: Holly McNamara has time and space in the box after clever play from Charli Grant, but the young striker takes a heavy touch that allows the South Korea defence to reset just in time to block the shot.
14 mins: Tameka Yallop wins the ball back as South Korea try to clear their defence and fires in a rocket from outside the penalty box. It’s heading for the top left corner but keeper Kim Minjung makes a diving save.
12 mins: Catley’s free kick drops fractionally short and South Korea are able to gradually work their way up the field. A speedy switch from the right to left side finds a way into the box for the first time but the Matildas defence is waiting for Choo Hyojoo’s cross.
10 mins: Holly McNamara turns on the afterburners playing off the shoulder of the South Korea defence. Shin Nayeong brings her down to give the Matildas another free kick in a dangerous area on the right and might be pleased to have avoided a caution.
7 mins: The crowd are saving their biggest cheers for injured striker Sam Kerr but on the field Caitlin Foord has started with great energy and taken command of the Matildas’ front line.
5 mins: The Matildas have set up camp in South Korea’s half as 17-year-old Casey Phair brings down Australia’s starting debutant Jamilla Rankin in a dangerous area.
3 mins: The Matildas have another half-chance with South Korea looking nervy in their own box before clearing the danger.
1 min: The Matildas straight onto the attack as captain Steph Catley swings in a free kick from the right-hand side and young striker Holly McNamara almost pounces on a loose ball in the box.
Peeeeeep!
We’re under way at Allianz Stadium with Tom Sermanni sending the Matildas out in a traditional 4-4-2, at least to begin with.
The national anthems are complete and the players are taking their positions as we’re moments away from kick off at Allianz Stadium.
The Matildas have faced a mini-injury crisis for these two friendlies against South Korea while being boosted by the return of Sam Kerr to the camp. The injured captain won’t be taking the field this evening, or in Newcastle on Monday, as she reprises her role from the early stages of the Women’s World Cup as the Matildas No 1 fan.
The Matildas will be below full-strength in attack with captain Sam Kerr still on the comeback trail from a serious knee injury, Hayley Raso now also sidelined and playmaker Mary Fowler set to play limited minutes off the bench.
But this highly-touted striker Holly McNamara a chance to shine and she arrives in red-hot form for Melbourne City including with the decisive goal against Wellington last weekend. The 22-year-old has made five appearances for the national side but is still searching for a breakthrough goal.
Football Australia say that this game at Allianz Stadium is sold out, though it remains to be seen how many members of the venue show up to take their seats.
Those that are here are suitably keen to add some colour to the festitivies.
Sam Kerr has joined up with the Matildas camp for the first time since rupturing an ACL while training with Chelsea in 2023, and has also wound her way through a high-profile criminal trial where she was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment in February.
Football Australia has since decided not to impose any further sanctions on their star striker for the late-night incident in the UK during which she verbally abused a police officer, with Matildas including veteran midfielder Emily van Egmond throwing their support behind Kerr to continue as captain of the national side.
South Korea XI
South Korea: Kim Minjung (gk), Lim Seonjoo, Shin Nayeong, Kim Shinji, Ji Soyun, Choe Yuri, Lee Youngju (capt), Lee Geummin, Kim Hyeri, Choo Hyojoo, Phair Casey Yujin
𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗮𝘀 𝗢𝗡𝗘, 하나되어 빛나는 순간!✨
4월 원정 친선경기 호주전에 출전하는 🇰🇷여자축구국가대표팀의 선발명단을 공개합니다!📌Non-playing 류지수, 이유진, 정다빈
✔여자축구국가대표팀 친선경기
🇰🇷v🇦🇺#호주 04.04(금) 18:10📺TV조선2, tvN Sports , 쿠팡플레이
⏰한국시간 기준 pic.twitter.com/OF3h07Vc2K— theKFA (@theKFA) April 4, 2025
Matildas XI
Australia: Teagan Micah (gk); Charlotte Grant, Alanna Kennedy, Winonah Heatley, Jamilla Rankin, Steph Catley (capt); Kyra Cooney-Cross, Emily Van Egmond, Tameka Yallop; Caitlin Foord, Holly McNamara.
The Matildas are already missing several first-choice starters due to injury and will kick off against South Korea with playmaker Mary Fowler among the substitutes due to a heavy workload in recent weeks.
Jamilla Rankin will make her first start for the national side.
The Matildas will face South Korea with interim head coach Tom Sermanni still in charge for at least these two friendlies and possibly a couple more against Argentina in late May and early June. Sermanni has been a steadying hand during his third stint as Matildas coach but Football Australia surely needs to ramp up its search – or more likely, negotiations – for someone to take the reins heading into the 2026 Asian Cup.
Joe Montemurro is tipped to be among the frontrunners, along with Western United men’s coach John Aloisi. Sermanni would be comfortable with the current Lyon coach taking over as his permanent successor, yesterday describing Montemurro as an “outstanding coach”.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the women’s international friendly between Australia and South Korea at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The Matildas are seeking a return to form in back-to-back friendlies against their Asian rivals after a horror campaign at the SheBelieves Cup but will have to do so without some of their leading players.
Australia lost all three matches at the tournament in the United States in February and have now slumped to a 20-year low in the Fifa world rankings at No 16. But they have no time to lick their wounds with the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup on home soil now less than 11 months away.
South Korea knocked the Matildas out of the last continental tournament with a 1-0 victory at the quarter-final stage and loom as a stern challenge in a pair of friendlies as both sides gear up for another shot at winning an Asian Cup.
The Matildas have handed several debuts and additional opportunities to emerging and fringe players during interim head coach Tom Sermanni’s third stint in charge and are likely to call on many of those fresh faces with the first-choice XI hit hard by injury. Katrina Gorry (ankle) withdrew ahead of the players landing back in Australia while Ellie Carpenter (ankle) and Hayley Raso (thigh) were ruled out on Thursday and sent back to their respective clubs.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold will also miss at least tonight’s game after injuring an arm in Matildas training this week. Liverpool shotstopper Teagan Micah will take the gloves at Allianz Stadium while Arnold will hope to return to face the world No 19 In Newcastle on Monday night.
Kick-off is at 8.10pm AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news.
In the meantime, get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
