Matildas’ veteran reflects on historic 2010 Asian Cup success ahead of the tournament’s renewal
It is 15 years since the Matildas did what was impossible to many - and won the women’s Asian Cup. Tameka Yallop reflects on the dramatic final and historic win.
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The medal and jersey sit in a box at her parents’ house but the feeling of lifting the 2010 Asian Cup sits with Tameka Yallop every day – a constant reminder that the impossible is possible.
Reflecting on that historic win, a feat that has eluded the Matildas ever since, has Yallop hungry to relive the glory when the tournament is held in Australia next year.
Clinching the Asian Cup 15 years ago was deemed impossible by many.
Australia had barely found its footing in the Asian confederation, coming up against football giants Japan, China and Korea meant its chances were slim.
Against all odds the relatively young and inexperienced side did the unthinkable.
“It was kind of crazy to just even be there, experience my first tournament, and win,” Yallop, who was 18 at the time, said.
“I hadn’t imagined it.
“At the time we obviously didn’t know it would be so long between getting the opportunity to lift a trophy again or putting ourselves in the position to lift a trophy.”
The turning point
A new documentary, released on Friday, to coincide with the 15-year anniversary of the historic win, highlights just how extraordinary the campaign was.
The Matildas surprised the football world when they made it out of the group stage and progressed to a semi-final against Japan.
The game was about more than just making the Asian Cup finals – a win guaranteed the Matildas entry to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Midfielder Yallop can still remember how big that game felt.
“Winning that game was the turning point, it was a nerve-wracking game, but we found the back of the net and were solid after that, it gave us a lot of confidence going into the final,” she said.
Former Matildas striker Sarah Walsh said the team certainly had some luck go their way with the win over Japan.
“I don’t recall touching the ball that much,” Walsh said.
“I’m pretty sure Japan hit our crossbar five times, if we had to play that match again six times, Japan would win it six times but the football Gods were with us.”
The dramatic final
Even coach Tom Sermanni had his doubts the team would break Japan. Agreeing to shave his trademark moustache and dye his silver locks if the Matildas were victorious.
“As soon as we got back to the hotel (after the win), we all crowded around and shaved his moustaches and coloured his hair which was a pretty drastic change for him considering I don’t think I’d seen him look any different from the day I met him to now 15 years later,” Yallop said.
“For us it showed how much it meant not just to the players but the staff as well.”
With World Cup qualification secured, the final against North Korea was just the cherry on top. Once again the Matildas were the underdogs.
Walsh said the torrential rain and torn up pitch worked in the Matildas’ favour.
“North Korea could move the ball around pretty well and that pitch was played on throughout the whole tournament, so it wasn’t great, but it suited us,” Walsh said.
Goals to Sam Kerr and Jo Yun-mi had the game at 1-1 and with neither team able to break the deadlock after extra time it sent the decider down to a penalty shoot out.
The pressure all landed on teenager Kyah Simon. Her penalty kick could win the Matildas the game and the trophy.
Kerr can still recall watching Simon walk up to the dot.
“I remember Kyah walking up and thinking thank God that is not me, she was still young herself and pens (penalties) is just not my thing, we were on the edge of our seats,” Kerr recalls in the documentary.
Simon recalled: “I remember the slush in my boots, the water in my socks. When I saw the water spray off the net, I turned around and saw all the girls running towards me.”
The future
Walsh said at the time no one quite appreciated just how big an achievement it was.
“It is only now, having not won it again, we see how important that moment was and how hard it is to do,” she said.
While the Matildas haven’t won a tournament since, women’s football has exploded in popularity which is in line with the huge boost in investment right around the globe.
Walsh, now the COO of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 local organising committee, said the differences between when she was a player to now were huge.
The final in 2010 was played in front of 1200 people – the Asian Cup final in 2026 is expected to be played in front of 70,000 people, with up to 800,000 tickets potentially sold over the course of the tournament.
“I still pinch myself that it’s grown so rapidly,” Walsh said.
The documentary will premiere on Football Australia’s YouTube channel on Friday, May 30.
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