Matildas captain Sam Kerr says her young side will build on experience of playing US going to the Asian Cup

Sam Kerr was ill all week and couldn’t find the goal that would equal an international scoring record but has bigger team ambitions.

Sam Kerr says the Matildas are building up to something big. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Matildas captain Sam Kerr has conceded her team is in a “bit of a rebuilding stage” and knows the 1-1 draw with the US was a big stepping stone on the way to next year‘s Asian Cup.

Kerr revealed a pre-game illness affected her own performance as a Kyah Simon deflected strike in the 88th minute salvaged a share of the spoils for the home side after another early goal from Ashley Hatch had, until that point, seemed decisive.

Just 24 hours after Kerr placed third in this year’s Ballon d’Or, the skipper was unable to add to what had been a prolific record in Newcastle, scoring five goals in three games.

Simon’s strike was the first goal for the Matildas in two games against the US, coming after a 3-0 loss on Saturday, and the Australians have still won just three of coach Tony Gustavsson’s 16 matches in charge.

Gustavsson has tinkered with players and formation in an attempt to address the defensive frailties, with no clear answers heading into January’s Asian Cup.

“It’s disappointing to concede in the first few minutes again, but it’s been a tough year, so to finish it with a tie to the world No.1, we’ll take it,” Kerr said of the draw.

“It probably wasn’t our best performance, but we’re building. We’re in a little bit of a rebuilding stage at the moment with new players, young players, so I’m super proud of the girls’ efforts.”

Kyah Simon celebrates scoring her team's only goal. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Kerr battled through a bout of gastro that went through the squad during their two-match friendly series against the US, and she will have to wait a while longer to equal Tim Cahill’s record of 50 international goals.

“They’re good defensively, but I thought I could have been better,” Kerr said.

“I’m a bit rusty still from being sick and not training as much as I would have liked, but it’s not about me, it’s about Kyah who scored the one to equalise and it’s a team effort.”

Sam Kerr said she was a ‘bit rusty”. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

The Matildas are aiming to win the Asian Cup for the first time since their sole triumph in 2010, and Gustavsson was glad to get in games against a side the calibre of the US.

“One of the reasons we (made it) to the semi-finals in the Olympics was because of the preparation. Same thing here,” Gustavsson said.

“So I’m extremely happy with all the answers that we got and I feel very, very confident leading into the Asian Cup, especially when we get the chance to download this game as well.

“We’ll get some individual answers from roster selection, getting some answers on where we are physically, tactically and all those kinds of things.

“So I’m very, very happy with these two games in terms of learning and getting one day better.”

Originally published as Matildas captain Sam Kerr says her young side will build on experience of playing US going to the Asian Cup