Sam Kerr scores the winning goal for Australia over China in the Asian Cup

Australia started strongly against China, with Chelsea’s Eli Carpenter, Manchester City’s Mary Fowler and Arsenal’s Ford combining brilliantly to give Australia the lead.

Carpenter impressed with her pace, running down the left flank to pick out Fowler’s pass before passing back to the Manchester City striker, who played the ball back for Ford to score with a powerful first-time shot.

“The second half was better, but the first half was disappointing,” Matildas coach Joe Montemurro told Channel 10.

“We scored a very good goal and I think we started to find our rhythm, and then we just dropped off.

“We just need to play higher, we need to be braver, but we got the result we wanted.”

There was an exodus from the Women’s Super League at the start of the Asia Cup, with 13 of Australia’s 26-man squad playing in the English domestic league.

The Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal and Chelsea is scheduled to take place on March 24, three days after the Asian Cup final, meaning both clubs could be without key players once the travel and celebrations are likely.

Australia have progressed to the semi-finals knowing they are the first nation to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil thanks to a 2-1 win over North Korea earlier this week.