Asian Cup LIVE 2026: Kerr scores and Fowler returns in 1-0 win against Philippines

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10.16pm

Sam Kerr after the whistle: ‘I’m just finding my confidence again’

Sam Kerr has spoken after the match, saying she’s still finding her feet after coming back from her ACL injury late last year.

“I think I’m just finding my confidence again... I feel like I’m still my normal self, I’ve just got to get more touches in and around the box,” she said.

“Everyone comes here to win, but we’re just taking it one game at a time. Today was a good start and there’s a lot of belief in the team but as you see today, there’s a lot of quality teams in the Asian Cups so you have to take it one day at a time.”

“It was nice to get the win, nice to be at home and the weather was good to.”

10.03pm

Statistics at full-time

9.55pm

Full-time in Perth

When all is over, the Philippines defence – all 11 of them – will get the credit for keeping this scoreline as low as it is. Their objective going in was to be annoying, coach Torcaso said. I think it worked.

Even the last efforts of Kerr and Catley get us nowhere and Montemurro is high-fiving his bench before the final whistle blows.

Australia 1-0 Philippines, 90+4 minutes

9.52pm

Five more minutes

A diagram of the shots taken by the Matildas is going to paint a frustrating picture of dots surrounding but not inside the target. They come from Kerr, from Sayer, from Foord and from Fowler but none go in.

Gorry is called up for a foul but nothing is given the other way when Foord goes to ground, much to the grievance of the Perth crowd. Frustrations build all over.

There will be five minutes of additional time.

Australia 1-0 Philippines, 90+2 minutes

9.45pm

McDaniel down with cramp, more substitutions

The Philippines make more substitutions and McDaniel goes down with what appears to be cramp. She’s treated on the pitch and her team get a drinks break as a result.

Jourdyn Curran replaces Sara Eggesvik and Isabella Pasion replaces Katrina Guillou.

Australia 1-0 Philippines, 85 minutes

9.42pm

Amy Sayer is on

Amy Sayer replaces Hayley Raso and maybe this is the difference Australia needs. Sayer has clocked some great goals for the Matildas in the past 12 months and can seek out a pass from distance.

She makes an impact immediately finding Steph Catley who shoots it above the goal.

Australia 1-0 Philippines, 82 minutes

9.40pm

A lot of shots, very few on target

The referees so far have shown a non-interventionist approach to most challenges so far in this match which may become a theme of the tournament.

Fowler is looking exciting when she gets the ball but the Philippines crowd around her and she doesn’t look very combative.

Kerr takes another shot, it’s wide again. The full-time statistics will document this waft of shots. None of them will go down as having been on target.

Australia 1-0 Philippines, 79 minutes

9.36pm

Philippines’ time-wasting

The Philippines are moving slowly when they get the ball back for throw-ins. They want the scoreline against them to stay as low as possible in case they have to rely on goal difference to make it through the group stage. We’re yet to see whether the referees will lose patience with their liberal approach to time keeping.

Australia 1-0 Philippines, 76 minutes

9.34pm