Sam Kerr’s Chelsea teammate Ji So-yun set to be South Korea’s trump card against the Matildas

The Matildas need to stop the threat of Sam Kerr’s Chelsea teammate Ji So-yun if they are to reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals.

Mary Fowler (right) is confident the Matildas are on track to win the Asian Cup. Picture: Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images

Sam Kerr’s Chelsea teammate Ji So-yun looms as the Matildas’ biggest obstacle to reaching the Asian Cup semi-finals.

The Matildas will start as favourites in Sunday night’s quarter-final against South Korea in Pune.

The teams have met 19 times in international competition, with Australia having won 13 to South Korea’s three, with the other three matches finishing in draws.

In the teams’ most recent meeting, the Matildas won 4-1 at Suncorp Stadium during the 2019 Cup of Nations.

However, the South Koreans will be a step up from three teams the Matildas beat in the group stage – Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

And central to South Korea’s hopes of ending the Matildas’ tournament is 30-year-old Ji, who scored four of her side’s six group stage goals.

Ji also found the back of net in Brisbane three years ago.

Not surprisingly so did Kerr, who netted a brace in Australia’s win.

The pair are both expected to shine again on Sunday night, and the Ji has warned that her team won’t take a backwards step.

“We’ve come here to win the tournament,” Ji said.

Sam Kerr (left) and Ji So-yun celebrate winning silverware with Chelsea. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

However. South Korea’s coach, Englishman Colin Bell – who has spent time previously mentoring Matildas Emily van Egmond and Mary Fowler – knows how tough Australia will be to beat.

“It’s a different proposition,” Bell said.

|”Australia are very physical. They have Sam Kerr, a world-class player up front. Emily van Egmond is an ex-player of mine. Mary Fowler (is) a young talent that I also coached for a while in Ireland.”

Teenage sensation Fowler said the Matildas knew what it took to beat Bell’s team.

“We just had three good (group) wins,” Fowler said.

“Obviously the South Koreans are a good team and we’ve got to go on knowing that it’s going to be a tough game but we know what we need to do and we’re confident in our game plan, and that as a team we’ll be able to get the win.”

Fowler said falling short of a medal at last year’s Tokyo Olympics continued to motivate the Matildas.

“Everyone really wants to win this tournament,” she said.

“We’re on the right path and everyone’s excited for this quarter-final because we just want to win so much because at the Olympics we were so close but we just didn’t (win) there.

“Now it’s a stepping stone for the (2023) World Cup and we want to set the tone here.

“I know the job I need to do, and I just want to go out there and help the team win.”

AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final

Australia v South Korea

Sunday, 7pm (AEDT)

Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune

TV: Live, 10 Bold