Matildas v China LIVE updates: Australia push for place in Asian Cup final

Yeah, the last few minutes have been pretty similar. Australia can’t quite keep the ball for long enough or one of the players always tends to have a loose touch or movement at a critical moment when they’re trying to build something … the good news is the Matildas have been pretty good at winning the ball back when they lose it, but it feels like to me they’re going to need a different dynamic to break this deadlock.

Emily van Egmond? Amy Sayer, maybe? And when does Montemurro decide he needs to make a substitution to change this situation?

China 1-1 Australia, 56 minutes

We’ve picked up where we left off: with China playing fast and direct on the transition and the Matildas trying (and battling) to play through them, lacking the requisite poise and polish to make those attempts really work.

That’s probably going to be the flavour of this thing until something changes through a goal.

Like I said earlier, a tough watch if you’re emotionally invested.

China 1-1 Australia, 49 minutes

No changes at half-time by either side, and the Chinese kick things off for the second half.

Hoo boy. Fingers crossed.

Should Wang Aifang have been shown a straight red card instead of a yellow for that nasty challenge on Gorry? It was studs-up on the inside of the calf and looked like it hurt big time.

This is a physical game and China, who have the height advantage, are not taking a backward step. They’ve conceded five fouls to Australia’s four and have two of the game’s three yellow cards.

Expect more in the second half.

Overall it’s tough to call this game. Very open - far more than both teams’ respective quarter-finals - but the approaches are contrasting.

China are going long whenever they can, and why wouldn’t you when you’ve got Shao and Wurigumula lurking up top? Australia are trying to play through and, while they do have the share of possession, are not able to keep it long enough to string together enough passes for anything near a repeat of that line-breaking opening goal.

In the (paraphrased) words of Tom Sermanni: it doesn’t matter how you get it done, just get it done.

And that’s it. The first half is in the books - and it’s all square.

Caitlin Foord’s opening goal in the 17th minute put the Matildas ahead after a crackingly well-worked move down the right flank. Things augured well for Australia… but then nine minutes later, Zhang Linyan drew a foul in the box from Mackenzie Arnold and then converted from the penalty spot to make it 1-1.

Hard to call it from here. It’s been a pretty even game, and a challenging watch for partisan Tillies types, because it’s so bloody tense, and so much is on the line!

… to finish off this pretty evenly-matched first half.

Yeah, this is tense. Someone’s mistake or a bit of brilliance is gonna break this open.