Sam Kerr scores first Matildas goal since 2023 to open Asian Cup with win

[p]Absent for nearly two years ‌with an ACL injury, striker-captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kerr-samantha/8YuNOAak/"]Kerr[/a] notched her 70th goal for the 'Matildas' and first since ‌an Olympic qualifier against Taiwan in the same city in ‌November 2023.[/p][p]Kerr's 14th-minute strike was a delight for home fans among the ‌crowd of 44,379, a record attendance for a Women's Asian Cup ‌match, but it proved the sole highlight in a match where the Matildas blew chances and the 41st-ranked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philippines/CINRvtL5/"]Philippines[/a] defended in numbers.[/p][p]"[b]I think I'm just finding ‌my confidence again,[/b]" Kerr said of her long ⁠lay-off with injury.[/p][p]"I feel like ‌I'm still my normal self, I've just got to get more touches in ​and around the box.[/p][p]"[b]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.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/YXMhvJho/"]Australia[/a] ⁠routed the Philippines 8-0 ​in their previous match during Olympic qualifying in 2023 but the hosts were well-held on Sunday, even if the Southeast Asians failed to record a single shot on goal.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hunt-clare/UsOPB6uH/"]Clare Hunt[/a] broke the game open with a ‌deep cross from the right corner to the far post, finding [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/foord-caitlin/SMMIEghM/"]Caitlin Foord[/a] who headed the ball down for Kerr to nod in from close range.[/p][embed guid="f38af447-11c9-4fc6-ad8f-a0f74b86b974" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sSt5kIk6-g" social-type="youtube" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-egmond-emily/QBHh8iVk/"]Emily van Egmond[/a] could have doubled the score with another header from the same spot minutes later but sent it flying over the bar, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raso-hayley/hjjKfGtK/"]Hayley Raso[/a]'s well-taken volley into the net was chalked off by the VAR for offside on the half-hour mark.[/p][p]With Australia continuing to rack up shots on goal after the ‌break while conjuring few on target, coach Joe Montemurro subbed on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fowler-mary/ryXzcOHS/"]​Mary Fowler[/a] for the last 20 minutes to try to unlock ‌their Group A rivals.[/p][p]On the comeback trail from her own knee injury, the skilful Fowler had some nice touches but could also find no way through the wall of blue Filipina defenders.[/p][p]Australia face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/jFKGXQSG/"]Iran[/a] at Gold Coast Stadium on Thursday in their ⁠next group match, with the Philippines ⁠meeting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/6LgUhbye/"]South Korea[/a] in ‌a double-header at the same venue.[/p]