Matildas keep Asian Cup plans on track with win over the Philippines

It wasn’t a blowout like the 18-0 opener but Matildas star Sam Kerr stepped up when needed at the Asian Cup.

IT wasn’t pretty, nor was it convincing but it’s all but passage sealed to the Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals for the Matildas.

Memories of the 18-0 drubbing over Indonesia were quickly put to rest as Australia were given their first real test of the tournament by a well-drilled Philippines outfit.

After an uninspiring, goalless opening-half, Sam Kerr nodded home her sixth goal in two games before Emily Van Egmond, Mary Fowler and a Hali Long own-goal rounded out the scorers to close-out the 4-0 win.

While the result solidified their spot on-top of Group B, the performance raised more questions than answers especially in regarding how they perform against a disciplined defensive unit.

The Philippines, led by former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic, proved to be a headache from the onset and didn’t allow the Australian midfield to have the same amount of control as they were afforded in their opening group game.

Sam Kerr (3rd R) of Australia heads to score her side's first goal against the Philippines (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images)

However, they would eventually come unstuck as the game wore on - especially from set pieces where both Kerr and Van Egmond were able to force the ball home after the interval.

“We knew this was going to be a very different game from the opening game and I have to give a lot of credit to the Philippines,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.

“They made it very difficult for us... I think we were able to stay focused and not get frustrated,

“The players came out with conviction and confidence in the second-half that they knew that when the first goal comes, it‘s probably going to come with the second, the third and the fourth and so it did.”

Gustavsson‘s side will play their final group stage game against Thailand on Friday morning (AEDT).

MIDFIELD MINEFIELD

Why try to fix what isn’t broken?

The heart of the Matildas struggles came in the midfield and it was no surprise this would be the case when taking into account the starting line-up, the Philippines’ intent to cede possession and force the Aussie midfielders to try to pick holes in their well-organised backline.

Gustavsson dropped Clare Wheeler for Tameka Yallop and moved Emily Van Egmond to the base of midfield - a role which has proven throughout time to under-utilise her greatest strength as a creative midfielder.

Given that the move didn’t pay dividends, it made the pre-game alteration all the more puzzling.

.@stephcatley sending a beaut of a cross to find @Em_surf for our third! 🙌

🎥: @10FootballAU#PHIvAUS#WeAreMatildas#WAC2022pic.twitter.com/SAzHNfuaCm

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) January 24, 2022

WE MEET AGAIN, STAJ

When the draw was released in October last year, it was the fixture that was immediately circled on the calendar.

In only his second game in charge of the Philippines, Alen Stajcic came up against his former side for the first time since being controversially sacked as coach in January 2019 only months before their Women’s World Cup campaign in France.

If there was anyone to understand and decipher the Matildas playbook, it would be Stajcic, having coached the majority of the Australian squad throughout his almost five years at the helm.