The Matildas stormed to a 4-0 Asian Cup victory over Iran at Gold Coast Stadium on Thursday evening however will probably be sweating on the health of one among their most electrical gamers.
Hayley Raso is unlikely to play Sunday’s essential recreation towards South Korea after failing to complete the match following two separate blows to the pinnacle.
First, Raso was left rattled after taking a strong ball to the face from point-blank vary early within the match.
READ MORE: Eels icon shuts down revenge theory behind Lomax collapse
READ MORE: Eels shellshocked as Storm rack up 52 in thumping
READ MORE: Former teammates clash as Swans rout Blues at SCG
The influence appeared to rattle the winger, who fell awkwardly to the turf and prompted a fast evaluation from the Matildas’ medical workers.
“That is very, very problematic,” Andy Harper stated 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 pinnacle. Community 10
Regardless of exhibiting her trademark resilience to return to the pitch, she later collected a stray kick to the pinnacle that introduced her evening to a untimely finish.
“Hayley, to me, appears to be like extra uncomfortable with this one in comparison with the primary one,” Harper stated.
“It’s the repeated nature of them that’s the fear.”
This time the medical workers took no additional dangers, serving to Raso off the pitch and introducing Michelle Heyman for the ultimate minutes.
“It is not what you wish to see in any respect,” Grace Gill added.
The lack of Raso will probably be powerful for the Aussies who at present sit second in Group A behind South Korea on objective distinction, who they play on Sunday evening.
Hayley Raso undergoes a concussion check. Getty
The Matildas must beat South Korea to safe high spot within the group earlier than advancing to the knockout phases, though they may 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 towards Raha Yazdani in the course of the Matildas’ AFC Girls’s Asian Cup 2026 conflict with Iran at Gold Coast Stadium. Cameron Spencer by way of Getty Photographs
The stress advised 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 severe knee harm in time for the Asian Cup.
“I had a bit of second to myself strolling on the market,” Fowler stated post-game.
“Simply suppose again on the rehab and respect 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 regarded like a cross to a lurking Sam Kerr took a depraved dip to search 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, almost doubling the lead with a sequence that saved the Iranian defence on its heels.
Whereas the stress was relentless, the Matildas have been twice left pissed off — first as Kerr’s goal-bound shot was scrambled clear, after which as Caitlin Foord was denied by the offside flag.
Nonetheless, Fowler ultimately doubled the lead within the twenty seventh minute, pouncing on a unfastened ball spilled by Yektaei.
Displaying poaching instincts, Fowler lunged ahead to toe the ball residence 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 evaluation 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, holding religion in his beginning XI to keep up their rhythm.
Australia was initially awarded a second-half penalty for a handball by Golnoosh Khosravi, however the resolution was swiftly overturned after officers decided the ball had deflected off Khosravi’s personal boot.
The stream of the second half was repeatedly damaged as a number of Iranian gamers required medical therapy, which visibly stifled the Matildas’ momentum.
Kennedy ultimately secured her brace, latching onto an Emily van Egmond nook to energy residence a commanding header.
This triggered a trio of modifications 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 have 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 battle.
The gesture drew a vocal response from the stands, with sections of the group whistling and cheering.
