Australia Snatch Late Draw Against South Korea

Kennedy's stoppage-time goal secures 3-3 draw for Matildas

Australia's Alanna Kennedy scores late to draw 3-3 with South Korea in Women's Asian Cup.

Matildas fight back to share points with South Korea, but Korea tops Group A...

Australia fought back to snatch a 3-3 draw against South Korea in the Women's Asian Cup, with Alanna Kennedy scoring her second goal of the tournament deep into stoppage time. Despite the late equalizer, South Korea topped Group A due to a superior goal tally.

The Koreans will face a third-placed team from another group in the quarter-finals on Saturday at Stadium Australia. 

The ‌Matildas, meanwhile, will have to travel across Australia to play either ‌North Korea or reigning champions China in the last eight at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Friday.

South Korea, runners-up at the last Asian Cup in 2022, opened the scoring ‌in the 13th minute when Mun Eun-Ju latched onto ⁠an inch-perfect pass from Jeon Yu-Gyeong ‌and slid the ball past Mackenzie Arnold.

Australia looked to be heading for victory when Alanna Kennedy bundled the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble in the 32nd minute, and Sam Kerr drilled home a second in stoppage time at halftime to put the Matildas 2-0 up.

FULL TIME | After a tight contest, we finish as runners-up in Group A, and head to Perth for our quarter-final.

⏭️Next Up: 🇦🇺v Group B runner-up 13.03.26 6pm AWST - Perth#Matildas #HowWeWaltz #TilitsDone #AFCWomensAsianCup #WAC2026 pic.twitter.com/rq7DMQuqw8

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 8, 2026

However, South Korea fought back in the second half. Kim Shin-Ji equalised from the penalty spot six minutes after the break, and substitute Kang Chae-Rim scored a stunning goal from the edge of the box to put the Koreans 3-2 up. 

Roared on by a crowd of 60,279, Australia pressed forward in the last 20 minutes, desperately seeking the two goals they needed to top the group and ensure they would stay in Sydney for as long as they remained in the tournament.

Midfielder Kennedy got one with a powerful shot into the roof of the net eight minutes into stoppage time, but there was not enough time for another.

“You never doubt the confidence and the fight, but we need to manage games better,” said Australia coach Joe Montemurro.

“We were very patchy tonight and I think when you play against a ‌quality team, and when they can retain the ball, you're not going to get the result you want.”

The Philippines kept their hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Iran, thanks to goals from Sara Eggesvik and Chandler McDaniel at soggy Gold Coast Stadium. Despite giving it their all, Iran will exit the tournament winless and without a goal, having played on despite the war back home