Summary Joey Lynch And with that, the Matildas have played their final home game for 2023; a year that started with so much hope and promise and somehow managed to unfold in a manner that still defied all expectation and reason and left Australia forever changed. The team will play two final games to wrap up their year in North America next month, facing off with Canada in back-to-back fixtures that will serve as the final games of Christine Sinclair’s legendary career. Their thoughts will then turn to the final phase of Olympic qualification – hopefully we know who they’ll be playing by then. Thanks for your company tonight and be sure to check out Jo Khan’s report from Perth Oval. Amid that reported USWNT interest, Tony Gustavsson is asked by Robbie Thompson on the coverage if he will still be with the Matildas come the Paris Olympics in the event they qualify. “I love this team. And we have unfinished business to do.” Tony Gustavsson is on the coverage, talking about breaking down buses. He credits Taiwan’s defending and describes tonight as being perfect for the team – the lack of an early goal forcing them to be patient in finding their opener. He shouts out the ability to play Fowler out wide, saying her one-on-one ability out wide gives the side a new dimension when they’re trying to break down embedded defences. Scratch that, China just equalised against South Korea. Group B really is the group of death. That won’t effect the Matildas’ ranking, though. In other results in AFC Olympic qualification, Japan has defeated Vietnam 2-0 while South Korea have a 1-0 lead over China with ten minutes to go. If the latter result holds, the Matildas will advance through to the next phase of qualification with maximum points and the best goal difference of any nation. Tonight was an illuminative test for the Matildas. After putting an opponent that had tried to come out and take something from them to the sword in the 8-0 thrashing of the Philippines, this contest presented them with another an opponent that would be deployed in a steadfast low-block and carry with them a resolute determination not to concede. Such circumstances had proven highly frustrating against Iran in a not all that convincing 2-0 win last week, one that was really only confirmed once Catley, Fowler, and Kerr were introduced against an Iranian defence on its last legs. A newfound commitment to playing through their opponents, combined with an experimental XI made it a long night. But this time around, with a first-choice line-up in place, Gustavsson’s side was eventually able to find a way through. This desire to work through defences was maintained for the most part, and the skill and technique of the players on the pitch eventually wore away the Taiwanese resistance. The combination play and movement between Foord and Fowler was a clear highlight and, of course, the latter’s strike was one for the ages. There’s obviously work to be done, and there were a few moments were the old habit of crossing spam looked like it might be sneaking back in, but there’s a real sense coming out of these games now that the path in front of the Matildas is clear and exciting. It would be very Australian football for the USWNT to come and steal Gustavsson away just as all this was happening. Harper pays tribute to the Taiwanese defence on the coverage and he’s bang on. Just like Iran, they were brave and determined in hurling themselves in front of the Matildas’ attacks time and time again. They were never winning this game but they absolutely made the Australians earn everything. Ssu-Yu, in particular, showed little consideration for her own wellbeing as she did everything she could to keep Kerr and company at bay and took her fair share of lumps. A memorable evening for the keeper even in defeat. Gill says the same on the coverage – I swear I had that idea before she said it. Tara Rushton and Grace Gill describe tonight as the “icing on the cake” on the coverage, former Matilda Gill praising the side for being able to break down Taiwan’s low block and emphasising the importance of the growth in performances that has been on show across the last three games. Full time! Australia 3-0 Taiwan Men at Work’s legendary ode Down Under rings out as the Matildas get the job done. Gustavsson’s side has taken three wins from three in Perth, with 13 goals scored with none conceded and progression to the next phase of Olympic qualification confirmed. Thumbs up. 90+5 Mins: Some shirts are off in the Perth Oval stands as the punters celebrate early. I thought that was Wellington Phoenix supporter’s gimmick? 90+5: Getting in on the action, Grant gets down the right and sends in cross that drifts into the side netting. 90+4: Ahhh! First Cooney-Cross tries from range and can’t hit paydirt. Then Fowler winds up from a similar position and fires wide. 90+3 Mins: Foord just won’t stop running. Every Matildas attack at this point feels like it’s being run through her position on the left flank, with the winger sending in repeated crosses that are scrambled away. 90+1 Mins: There will be five minutes of added time. 90 Mins: Ssu-Yu again gets clattered, this time by Sayer, as she grabs a Foord cross. Maybe if this football thing doesn’t work out the Eagles or Dockers could give her a call, she looks very strong in a pack. 89 Mins: An attempted foray forward by Taiwan is snuffed out by Fowler, with the resulting Matildas attack bogging down as the defence gets back into their shape. 87 Mins: Yallop is seeking a brace but her effort goes wide. 87 Mins: Confirmation coming through from Football Australia that Mary Fowlers has been named player of the match. Yeah, fair enough. 86 Mins: Ssu-Yu is back to her feet, getting a drink and will be good to continue. Like Iranian keeper Zahra Khajavi in the opening game of this round of qualification, you have to give her significant credit for a brave display. 85 Mins: Sayer floats a ball to the top of the six-yard-box with Yallop the intended target. Ssu-Yu comes out to claim it bravely and is cleaned up (non maliciously) for her trouble. 82 Mins: Li-ping and Chi head to the bench, replaced by Chang Chi-lan and Chin-wen Chen. 81 Mins: Space and gaps are opening up in the Taiwanese defence as the Matildas get forward again but they’re able to gather themselves and scramble it clear before winning a rare throw-in in their opponents half. 80 Mins: Foord again threatens to get into space down the left but is denied by the offside flag. 79 Mins: It’s a pretty illustrious list of Matildas milestone goal scorers that Kerr has joined this evening. 78 Mins: Raso sends an effort into the side netting. Moments later, Catley makes way for Nevin. Goal!! Australia 3-0 Taiwan. Tameka Yallop 76’ The Matildas have killed this game off, and the Taiwanese resistance looks broke. Foord goes one way and then the other before sending in a shot that gets blocked. Reacting quickly, the Arsenal star uses the outside of her boot to poke the ball across the face of goal for Sayer, who in turn squares it for Yallop. The Brisbane Roar star makes no mistake from close-range and makes it three. 74 Mins: The Matildas are still pressing hard for more goals and now down two, there’s a sense that the discipline is beginning to break down for a fatiguing Taiwan. 72 Mins: Yi-yun and Yu-hsuan head to the bench, replaced by Yi-wen Li and Pan Shin-yu. Seconds later, the Matildas force a high turnover and Gorry advances to the top of the box with menace before thundering a shot in. Somehow, Ssu-Yu keeps it out. A fantastic save. 70 Mins: Foord again has some time on the left and drives inside, this time opting to shoot. It is deflected away for a corner, one that bounces off the back of Kennedy when it’s sent in and goes out for a goal kick. Goal! Australia 2-0 Taiwan. Sam Kerr 68" It’s two! Are the floodgates opening? Foord works a one-on-one on the left and sends a ball into the penalty area that bounces off the leg of Li-ping. Kerr reacts quickly and with all her strikers instincts to get their first and poke the ball home. It’s a historic strike, the 900th goal scored in Matildas history, so really, it had to be Kerr, didn’t it? 66 Mins: A replay of Nathan Cleary celebrating Fowler’s goal comes on the coverage. Gossip obviously overrides Paramount not having the rights to show the Rugba Leeg. 64 Mins: In the aftermath of the goal, Raso makes way for budding bioethicist (see the pre-game chat) Sayer. Goal! Australia 1-0 Taiwan. Mary Fowler 62" Fowler golazo! The Matildas absolutely needed something to break the game open and they got a moment of brilliance! The young sensation collects a fabulous cross-field ball from Hunt and drives inside from the left to open the angle to lace a right-footed effort inside the far post. Ssu-Yu had absolutely no chance. 60 Mins: Taiwanese skipper Hsiang-huei makes way for substitute Bi-han Chan. 59 Mins: A quick switch of play gives Foord space to move into on the left. She drives into the box and tries to welly an effort inside the near post at a bit of an angle but Ssu-Yu has it covered. 58 Mins: Catley overlaps and is played into space on the left but her cutback to the near post has nobody arriving to meet it. 58 Mins: Australia work the ball around inside their foes area but Raso’s eventually volleyed effort from a Foord pass slices off her boot. 57 Mins: Taiwan get forward but loose the ball and then all of a sudden are left stretched! Grant drives to drive forward and take advantage but Li-ping slides in to snuff out those thoughts. 56 Mins: A ball is driven into the area and Ssu-Yu drops her attempt to claim. In her attempt to dive on it, she collects Raso’s leg. The Real Madrid attacker looks ok to continue, though. 55 Mins: Gorry tries again from a long way out but it’s straight at Ssu-Yu. 54 Mins: Another ball in for Kerr, another desperate clearance. Taiwan are giving it everything in defence and just like Iran, you have to respect it. 54 Mins: Ssu-yu gets a warning for taking too long with the goal kick. Fans still haunted by the dark arts deployed by Iran last week feel a shudder. 53 Mins: Foord wriggles into some space on the right and tries to put the ball on Kerr’s head and it does get there – only to graze the top of it and go out for a goal kick. 52 Mins: Taiwan look like they’ll have a chance to transition but Yu-hsuan is quickly swarmed by Kennedy and Grant. 51 Mins: Gorry tries to curl an effort into the path of Foord’s run to the top of the six-yard-box but it’s claimed very strongly by Ssu-yu. 50 Mins: The Australians are moving to quickly win the ball back every time they lose it. Fowler sends in a cross that can’t find a teammate. 49 Mins: Another ball into the box for Kerr, this time by Kennedy, but it’s over her head. 48 Mins: That was a chance! Cooney-Cross floats a long ball over the top of the Taiwanese defence and into the path of Kerr but the skipper isn’t clean with her attempt to claim and the attack peters out. 47 Mins: A throw in is sent in Yu-hsuan’s direction and she does enough to win another one near the halfway line. That resulting effort, however, results in a turnover. 47 Mins: Catley sends in the Matildas ninth corner of the game but the low delivery is hoofed clear. Second half We are under way at Perth Oval for the second stanza. 14 Mins: Cooney-Cross wins the ball back from Hsiang-Huei high up the park and finds Raso. The winger can’t put a cross in but does win another corner. 12 Mins: Big chance! Another corner from the Matildas, this time swung in by Catley from the right and onto the head of an open Kennedy, only for the defender’s header to sail wide of the target. 11 Mins: Cooney-Cross sends in the corner and Hunt and Kennedy both fly, with the latter perhaps putting the former off a header that misses the target. 10 Mins: Almost all of the Matildas early attacks are coming down that left flank. Fowler and Foord combine again and the latter wins the first corner of the game. Cooney-Cross to take. 9 Mins: Foord splits the gap between two defenders and drives in a shot that Ssu-Yu punches away. Kerr attempts to get onto the rebound but does so from an offside position. 9 Mins: Fowler tries to slip Foord in off the shoulder of a defender but the connection just isn’t there. 8 Mins: Gustavsson is up off the bench and gesticulating as he barks instructions to his side as they carry the ball forward, once again faced by a wall of white shorts. 6 Mins: Foord floats a cross into the box but it’s claimed by Ssu-Yu. Taiwan are sitting very, very deep and ceding possession to the Matildas early doors. 5 Mins: Gorry works her tway to the top of the box and lets loose with a shot but it’s straight at Ssu-Yu, who claims it. 4 Mins: Though most known in the national setup as a holding midfielder, Wheeler has started the game at right back for tonight’s game – she’s played as a wingback for Everton in England – but is inverting into the midfield when the Matildas are in possession. On the opposite side, Catley is also getting forward with regularity. 3 Mins: Fowler plays the ball to Foord on the flank but she’s blocked as she tries to force her way into the Taiwanese penalty area. 2 Mins: The Matildas force a high turnover, Raso and Kerr attempt to combine on their way into the area but it rolls away from the latter and is claimed by the keeper. 1 Min: Foord gets down the left before sending it central, but the visitors are able to repel the opening attack. Kickoff! The whistle sounds and we are underway at Perth Oval! National anthems of the two sides are completed and the two break towards their huddles and final preparations as Kerr and Hsiang-Huei conduct the coin toss. Players are in the Perth Oval tunnel waiting to be unleashed. Can report that once again the Football Australia staff on hand have been diligent in ensuring that every child walking out with the two sides will do so wearing a sponsor-emblazoned T-shirt. After starting in a false nine role against Iran, Sayer is forced to make do with another bench role this evening – albeit one would think that the side will be itching to get her a maiden international goal if/when she does get on the park. The 21-year-old has a lot of fans in the national setup but she’s also just as much a force off it: studying at Stanford University in the United States as possessing a passion for bioethics. Here’s Jo Khan with more. Tunes update from the ground. I hope everyone made sure to rise for the people’s Australian national anthem. We’re just minutes away from kickoff at Perth Oval The Matildas may have already secured progression to the next phase of Olympic qualification but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to play for. Maybe. At present, the formula for determining who will play who in the final phase of Olympic qualification hasn’t been revealed by the AFC. That means the Matildas have no way of knowing which of the three group winners or the best second-placed finisher of the three groups they will face in a home-and-away playoff next year with a spot in Paris on the line. As indicated by the strong starting XI, word from the camp is that the goal for this evening is to put themselves in the best possible position even in the face of uncertainty – which means another three points and as many goals as possible. Australia’s goal difference of +10 is the best of any side across the three groups -- one clear of South Korea, who play China in their final group game later tonight, and Japan, who have since equalled Australia by taking a 1-0 lead in their in-progress game against Vietnam. In other results from around AFC Olympic qualification today, the Philippines downed Iran 1-0 to secure their second win of the campaign -- previously defeating Taiwan 4-1 on the opening day -- while North Korea cruised to a 7-0 shellacking of Thailand. For the Philippines, their one-goal margin of victory leaves them on six points but with a goal difference of -4. Their hopes of advancing to the next phase of Olympic qualifying as the best second-placed finisher in the three groups will now rely on South Korea and China drawing in their meeting in Group B and Vietnam and Uzbekistan failing to beat Japan (likely) and India (unlikely) in the final games of Group C. Japan against Vietnam is currently underway with the former up 1-0, while kickoff in the other fixtures is later tonight. Sam Kerr collects accolades for fun these days, named Asian Player of the Year overnight, and she added further recognition to her stockpile yesterday with a second-place finish in the Ballon d’Or Féminin, behind only Spain and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí. Off the back of a strong World Cup, Hayley Raso came 17th in the vote. Coming off the back of what was statistically her quietest season yet for Chelsea, as well as a limited role at the World Cup due to injury, it perhaps came as something of a surprise that Kerr polled her highest ever finish this year. Then again, given that Foord didn’t even make the clearly World Cup influenced final rankings, there were far bigger injustices to worry about in this year’s poll. One neat little subplot that’s continued to develop over the course of the past week has been the future of Gustavsson, with the rumours surrounding him and the vacant United States women job refusing to go away. On Saturday, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan reported the Matildas coach was one of three names atop the shortlist of potential candidates for the prestigious USWNT role, the Swede apparently alongside Australian-born Juventus Women coach Joe Montemurro and OL Reign boss Laura Harvey atop U.S. Soccer’s wish list. Gustavsson, a two-time World Cup winning assistant with the USWNT, frequently speaks of his passion for coaching Australia and how he identifies with their “why” but has also stopped short of categorically putting the rumours to bed – repeating almost word-for-word a call for more resources from the World Cup when quizzed on the matter during these qualifiers. Given how good the Matildas looked against the Philippines and how it hinted at what the future of this squad might look like, it would certainly be a twist if it also represented one of Gustavsson’s final bows with the side. There’s been much made of the ‘Matildas Effect’ coming out of the World Cup, and it’s shown no signs of abating this week in Perth. All three of these Olympic qualifiers have been sellouts – the game against the Philippines doing so twice, in fact, selling out Optus Stadium after initially exhausting its allocation at Perth Oval. Here’s Jo Khan again. For Taiwan, victory on the scoreboard this evening is probably beyond the reasonable bounds of expectation. However, for Hiu-Ming, there are other ways his side can take something from their performance this evening in a game that should have more eyes on it than any other they’ll have played across the past week – especially eyes from local A-League Women clubs. “I would like to get this chance to hope that, if there is any club in Australia, if you think the players from Chinese Taipei may have a little bit of potential to play in your league, just try to take a look,” Hiu-Ming said in his pre-game press conference. “Because our local league development is not yet as professional as Australia or in Europe. I have these hopes and expectations. Results [are] short-term, but development is long-term. For me as a coach, I would like the girls to have more chances to explore, to travel abroad and to make their ambitions inside their minds.” Here’s the first of Jo Khan’s yarns from the build-up to this, shared not just because it reinforces my contention about the pairing of Foord and Kerr up top being very good. If you want to revisit Sunday’s win, here’s Jo Khan’s report to give you an insight into the best bits. “Through a brooding sky the clouds parted directly above the turf as if to say, “Matildas, it’s time to shine.” And so they did, with unforgiving ferocity against the Philippines, delivering an 8-0 thrashing in front of an adoring crowd of nearly 60,000 as hat-tricks from Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord and another a level of class from Mary Fowler and Clare Wheeler put the Matildas that bit closer to 2024 Olympic qualification.” Jo’s been in Perth throughout these qualifiers, so I’m going to be sharing a few of her yarns from out West before kickoff. There was a lot to be excited about in Sunday’s heavy win over the Philippines if you were a Matildas fan, perhaps most of all the move to pair Foord with Kerr in a central position in attack and play Mary Fowler out wide on the wing. The former pairing harkened back to what had the Matildas looking so strong during the lead into the World Cup, with the added wrinkle of a maturing and in-form Fowler out wide. The Matildas have traditionally struggled to break down sides that have sat back and made them take the initiative in possession rather than play on the counter themselves – the team’s most notable performance at the World Cup, a 4-0 win over Canada, came with just 39% of the ball – and there were signs of that against Iran. But Sunday’s performance (again, even accounting for the opposition) gave an insight into what this group of highly talented players can achieve. Seeing they can produce something similar tonight is one of the better reasons to tune in. Starting Lineups You know what I said about Gustavsson maybe taking it easy in the preamble? Yeah, not really. The coach makes just one change from the XI that put the Philippines to the sword, with Clare Wheeler coming into the lineup to replace the departed Carpenter. Australia: Arnold (GK), Cooney-Cross, Wheeler, Catley, Foord, Fowler, Kennedy, Hunt, Raso, Gorry, Kerr (C) Australia Subs: Williams (GK), Micah (GK), Nevin, Polkinghorne, Chidiac, Yallop, Sayer, Grant Australia Unavailable: Vine, Carpenter, van Egmond Taiwan: Ssu-Yu (GK), Chiung-Ying, Li-Ping, Hsiang-Huei (C), Yi-Yun, Yu-Hsuan, Kai Ching, Chia-Ying, Yu-Chieh, Chi, Ying-Hui Taiwan Subs: Yu-Ting (GK), Fang-Yi (GK), Yu-Ting, Wen-Chieh, Yi-Wen, Shin-Yu, Jin-Wen, Hsiu-Chin, Li-Chin, Fang-Yi, Hsin-Hui, Pi-Han, Chi-Lan Preamble Joey Lynch For one last time this international window, it’s a Matildas gameday: Australia against Taiwan in the final game of Group A play in the second phase of AFC Olympic Qualifying at a sold out Perth Oval in West Australia. If you’re just joining us, this evening’s contest represents something of a dead rubber for both sides – Taiwan already guaranteed to see their campaign end after tonight whereas the Australians have already assuring themselves of progression to the third-and-final phase of qualifying next year following wins over Iran and the Philippines in their opening two fixtures. In the first of those two games, an experimental XI sent out by Tony Gustavsson found themselves blunted against against the deep low block and, ahem, frequent calling upon of the dark arts by the Iranians in their opening encounter – the 2-0 scoreline significantly blow what would have been expected based on the two side’s resumes. The subsequent fixture against the Filipinas, however, saw a full-strength outfit put their opponents to the sword: running out 8-0 winners with both Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord netting hattricks. Even accounting for the unheralded nature of the Philippines compared to the strong opposition the Matildas have prioritised in recent years, the performance at a sold-out Optus Stadium was one of the most impressive yet registered under Gustavsson. Showing a willingness to combine through the middle of the park and displaying a freedom of movement and positioning, it was a free flowing and highly entertaining display from the side. Of course, it takes two to tango and, as mentioned, unfortunately for the Taiwanese, tonight represents something of a last dance. Coach Chan Hiu-Ming’s side has already been eliminated from proceedings following the Philippines win over Iran in the curtain-raiser to tonight’s fixture. Perhaps fortunately for their slim hopes of taking something from this evening’s game, though, Australia will be missing Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond for tonight’s game after the two were released early to return to their clubs and also without Cortnee Vine after she suffered a hamstring injury against the Philippines. Additionally, Gustavsson is expected to once again rotate his side for this game – Chelsea coach Emma Hayes might try and take out an injunction on him if Kerr picks up another injury on international duty in a dead rubber. Kick-off: 7pm local, 10pm AEDT