The Matildas stormed to a 4-0 Asian Cup victory over Iran at Gold Coast Stadium on Thursday night time however will likely be sweating on the health of one in all their most electrical gamers.
Hayley Raso is unlikely to play Sunday’s essential recreation in opposition to South Korea after failing to complete the match following two separate blows to the top.
First, Raso was left rattled after taking a strong ball to the face from point-blank vary early within the match.
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The influence appeared to rattle the winger, who fell awkwardly to the turf and prompted a fast evaluation from the Matildas’ medical employees.
“That is very, very problematic,” Andy Harper mentioned in commentary on Paramount +.
Raso underwent a concussion check and returned to the sector after half time.
Hayley Raso suffers a second knock to the top. Community 10
Regardless of exhibiting her trademark resilience to return to the pitch, she later collected a stray kick to the top that introduced her night time to a untimely finish.
“Hayley, to me, seems to be extra uncomfortable with this one in comparison with the primary one,” Harper mentioned.
“It’s the repeated nature of them that’s the fear.”
This time the medical employees took no additional dangers, serving to Raso off the pitch and introducing Michelle Heyman for the ultimate minutes.
“It is not what you need to see in any respect,” Grace Gill added.
The lack of Raso will likely be powerful for the Aussies who presently sit second in Group A behind South Korea on objective distinction, who they play on Sunday night time.
Hayley Raso undergoes a concussion check. Getty
The Matildas have to beat South Korea to safe prime spot within the group earlier than advancing to the knockout phases, though they’ll undergo to the knockout phases regardless.
Thursday’s victory was fuelled by an Alanna Kennedy brace and Mary Fowler‘s scientific return.
Kennedy led the cost with two targets, capping off a commanding efficiency with two targets to make sure Australia took full management of the competition.
Regardless of an early downpour, the Matildas managed the tempo from the opening whistle, losing no time in capitalising on their territorial dominance.
Remy Siemsen takes purpose in opposition to Raha Yazdani through the Matildas’ AFC Ladies’s Asian Cup 2026 conflict with Iran at Gold Coast Stadium. Cameron Spencer by way of Getty Photos
The strain informed shortly as Amy Sayer struck first, sparking a first-half flurry of targets that noticed Fowler and Kennedy be a part of the scoresheet to place Australia firmly within the driver’s seat.
Fowler had not scored for Australia in additional than a yr, having recovered from a critical knee harm in time for the Asian Cup.
“I had somewhat second to myself strolling on the market,” Fowler mentioned post-game.
“Simply suppose again on the rehab and admire the time I have been away. I used to be grateful for the second.”
Sayer struck first within the eighth minute with a spectacular, looping strike from outdoors the field.
What appeared like a cross to a lurking Sam Kerr took a depraved dip to seek out the again of the web, catching goalkeeper Maryam Yektaei utterly off guard and giving the Matildas a dream begin.
The early strike opened the floodgates as Fowler quickly discovered Kerr within the field, practically doubling the lead with a sequence that stored the Iranian defence on its heels.
Whereas the strain was relentless, the Matildas had been twice left annoyed — first as Kerr’s goal-bound shot was scrambled clear, after which as Caitlin Foord was denied by the offside flag.
Nevertheless, Fowler finally doubled the lead within the twenty seventh minute, pouncing on a free ball spilled by Yektaei.
Displaying poaching instincts, Fowler lunged ahead to toe the ball dwelling on the far submit, marking her first worldwide begin in 332 days in fashion.
The primary-half blitz continued as Kennedy made it 3-0 after connecting with a clear, scientific volley, earlier than Kerr was denied a fourth, having her objective struck off the board after a VAR overview discovered the captain offside by the narrowest of margins.
Regardless of the comfy lead, Matildas coach Joe Montemurro opted to not flip to his bench on the half-time break, protecting religion in his beginning XI to take care of their rhythm.
Australia was initially awarded a second-half penalty for a handball by Golnoosh Khosravi, however the determination was swiftly overturned after officers decided the ball had deflected off Khosravi’s personal boot.
The circulate of the second half was repeatedly damaged as a number of Iranian gamers required medical therapy, which visibly stifled the Matildas’ momentum.
Kennedy finally secured her brace, latching onto an Emily van Egmond nook to energy dwelling a commanding header.
This triggered a trio of adjustments as Hayley Raso, Remy Siemsen, and Holly McNamara changed Kerr, Foord, and Fowler.
In a notable shift from their match opener, the Iranian gamers sang their nationwide anthem forward of kick-off.
Because the anthem performed, a number of gamers had been seen elevating their palms to their temples in salute — a symbolic gesture being more and more utilized by Iranian athletes to sign solidarity with their homeland throughout this time of conflict.
The gesture drew a vocal response from the stands, with sections of the gang whistling and cheering.
