Women's Asian Cup 2026: Mackenzie Arnold's heroics, Sam Kerr and Alanna Kennedy's finishing saves Australia— Matildas vs North Korea quick hits
Alanna Kennedy (left) and Mackenzie Arnold (centre) were the Matildas heroes as North Korea missed a golden opportunity to advance despite dominating. (Getty Images)
Mackenzie Arnold turns into a brick wall as Sam Kerr and Alanna Kennedy's ruthlessness saves Australia.
Here are the quick hits from the Matildas' quarterfinal clash with North Korea.
1. Raso and Catley light up crowd from the sidelines
The Matildas came into this quarterfinal without two major players in Hayley Raso and Steph Catley.
Both Raso and Catley were forced out of the quarterfinal due to concussions, but were still in attendance for the match in Perth.
Australia had barely taken the lead when the camera operator at the stadium managed to capture Raso and Catley sitting on the sidelines watching.
You'd have thought the Matildas had scored another goal by the way the crowd lit up as the camera remained on the pair.
Raso and Catley did their best to remain nonchalant but eventually were forced to acknowledge all the attention.
2. Arnold keeps the Matildas afloat
Mackenzie Arnold was one of the heroes of Australia's 2023 World Cup campaign due to her excellent work between the sticks.
If anyone had forgotten just how good Arnold's glovework is, she offered fans an ample reminder in this match, finishing it with nine saves.
After Alanna Kennedy gave the Matildas an early lead, North Korea turned up the intensity and pinned their opponents into their own half of the ground.
The North Koreans had 58 per cent possession in the first half and lashed shot after shot at the Matildas goal, only to be thwarted time and time again.
Arnold's best save of the first half was a diving stop to her right after a brilliant header from North Korea's striker Kyong-Yong Kim, and she bettered that in the second half by thwarting a long-range effort from North Korea's captain An Kuk Hyang.
3. Clinical finishing proves the difference
Alanna Kennedy continued her scintillating Asian Cup form by scoring early for the Matildas with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)
The Matildas are so often criticised for their wastefulness in front of goal, but this quarterfinal was the exact opposite of the usual script.
Australia managed just two shots on target for the match, and both shots ended up in the back of the net with Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr the goalscorers.
North Norea will look back at the statsheet and wonder how they didn't come away with the win after dominating in every regard.
They finished the match with 62 per cent possession to Australia's 38 and had a total of 21 shots (10 on target) to Australia's four total shots.
North Korea also had nine corners to Australia's one but couldn't quite make their territorial dominance count.
4. Wheeler is left bleeding after elbow
Clare Wheeler was left with blood streaming from her face late in the second half as the Matildas defended grimly. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)
Australian players gathered around the referee pleading for a red card after Claire Wheeler was left bleeding in the 85th minute.
Wheeler, who was forced to defend for her life for much of the match, was contesting a header when she was inadvertently elbowed on the top of her eye by Myong Yu-Jong.
The referee instead showed a yellow, which was in the end a fair result given Yu-Jong and Wheeler both had their eyes squarely on the ball when contact was made.
Wheeler was able to stay on the field after receiving some running repairs and finished the match with her head bandaged up.
The yellow card meant Yu-Jong would have missed the semifinal, not that it mattered in the end with North Korea eliminated.
5. North Korea's famed 'dark arts' arrive too late
Nothing could faze Mackenzie Arnold (right), not even a late dose of North Korea's famed 'dark arts'. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)
Much of the lead-up to this quarterfinal centred around North Korea and their notorious "dark arts".
The North Koreans are known for being extremely tough opponents to play against due to their willingness to do just about anything to win.
The shenanigans were relatively minimal in this one aside from a dummied kick-off, but sparked up in injury time as North Korea chased a winner.
After making her eighth save of the match, Mackenzie Arnold led the ball stay idle for a little bit, eating up some valuable seconds before picking it up.
Wanting to rush her into it, North Korea's Kim Kyong-yong charged at her, clattering into the Australian goalkeeper who was left floored.
Kyong-yong received a stern talking-to from the officials, but avoided any sanctions.