KERR fires AUSTRALIA to opening win! | Australia - Philippines | Highlights | AFC Women's Asian Cup™

The opening fixture in the AFC Women's Asian Cup pits host and tournament favourites Australia against Philippines in the Perth Stadium in Group A. Australia are confident of the win against the up-and-coming Philippines side who won gold at the 2025 SEA Games. Australia almost totally dominant from the off as Claire Wheeler gets the deep cross in. It's loaded down here for Sam and the superstar gets the opening goal here and in the tournament the AFC Women's Asian Cup has liftoff. It's lovely combination to open up the well-organised Philippines defence as the nod down here comes from Ford. Just a couple of minutes later Australia looking for the second already as the Matildas here there's more nice play and another deep cross and the next She heads over the bar it could easily be two nil to the hosts already. Just over five minutes to go before halftime and a free kick being lined up here by Catley and she takes it with that left foot up and over the wall and that's a diving save by McDaniel to keep it at one nil. One-way traffic in the first half Australia though only have Sam Kerr's goal to show for it. Into the second half it's been quiet so far in the 66th minute with Australia struggling to break down the Philippines as perhaps here finally will get a shot. It's curled in Claire Wheeler from outside the box but well fielded by the Philippines goalkeeper McDaniel. Australia pushing everyone forward in the hunt for a second goal as Gorey here drives forward and pulls the trigger not really a test though for McDaniel this time very very tight out there coming towards the end of the match eight and a half minutes to go not much space for the Matildas as Australia combine again Kurter Catley but her shot is too high just a little bit wild there from the Australian side and four minutes to go as Fowler here the Manchester City attacker goes for goal is pinballing around in there and in the end the shot from Sayer another of the substitutes just cannot finish off a full-time Australia have to be satisfied with a slim one nil opening victory against a well-structured Philippines next up for the hosts it's Iran while Philippines play Korea Republic