Matildas qualify for 2027 World Cup with tough Asian Cup win

[p]All ‌Asian Cup semi-finalists earn automatic berths to ‌the global showpiece, with the losing quarter-finalists to play ‌off for two more spots on the Gold ‌Coast next week.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/YXMhvJho/"]Australia[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kennedy-alanna/QyhP8zWP/"]Alanna Kennedy[/a] scored her fifth goal at this year's Asian Cup in the ninth ‌minute against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/northern-ireland/zT5OJ7v3/"]North Koreans[/a], while ⁠captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kerr-samantha/8YuNOAak/"]Sam Kerr[/a] ‌doubled the Matildas' lead just after the break before ​Chae Un-Yong pulled one back.[/p][p]Australia will meet the winners of the match between defending ​champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/china/IFHViN7N/"]China[/a] and Taiwan, who clash at the same Perth Rectangular Stadium on Saturday.[/p][p]"[b]I felt it ⁠was a really ​good team performance, defensively,[/b]" said Kerr. "[b]The crowd was immense today, got us over the line. We're going to need them again in the semi-final.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="181ab7f7-7f90-40e5-ac11-ae6ca22f794c" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdNT5rnlLUw" social-type="youtube" /][p]Kennedy has ‌been in fine form for the 2010 champions and pounced when Kerr robbed opposing captain An Kuk-Hyang of the ball on the right side of the penalty area.[/p][p]Kerr's cut-back was intercepted but the clearance fell to Kennedy who lashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box inside the right post.[/p][p]Kerr stretched the lead with ‌a poacher's goal in the 47th minute, swooping ​on a defensive mistake and thumping in ‌another rising left-foot shot.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/north-korea/fojQgvMl/"]North Korea[/a] got their consolation goal in the 65th minute when Kim Kyong-Yong's cross found Chae who slid the ball home.[/p][p]Midfielder Emily van Egmond became Australia's joint ⁠most capped player, joining ⁠Clare Polkinghorne on ‌169 appearances.[/p]