Australia showed some clinical finishing to beat North Korea 2-1 in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals.
They took an early lead after Sam Kerr won possession, with Alanna Kennedy firing a powerful finish from the edge of the area.
But it was North Korea who had several more first-half attempts on goal, with Mackenzie Arnold forced into a couple of saves and Kim Kyong-Yong clipping the far post with the last effort before the break.
With the second half less than two minutes old, Kerr rifled the Matildas 2-0 up from just inside the box.
Chae Un-Yong halved the deficit on 65 minutes from a centre by Kim Kyong-Yong and were threatening an equaliser.
An Kuk Hyang saw her 30-yard strike turned round the post by Arnold, as the hosts held out to reach the last four despite being under pressure for long periods and outshot 21 to four.
Australia now play the winner of the tie between China and Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals on 17 March.
The four quarter-final winners will qualify directly for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, while the four quarter-final losers will compete in the play-in matches to determine the final two direct qualifiers, and the two Asian representatives in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Remaining Quarter-finals:
14 March – China v Chinese Taipei (5am GMT), South Korea v Uzbekistan (9am GMT)
15 March – Japan v Philippines (5am GMT)
All streamed live at www.youtube.com/@AFCAsianCup
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