Matildas Next Game: Inside Sam Kerr’s Quest in Perth Quarter-final

Sam Kerr, who has weathered major-tournament knock-out losses across her career, is the visible centre of a Matildas side facing Korea DPR in the quarter-finals. The Matildas Next Game comes after a 3-3 draw with South Korea left Australia second in Group A, and it will be played at Perth Rectangular Stadium on March 13 (ET).

Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy and the immediate selection questions

Clare Hunt has framed the match as a physical confrontation. “They’re quite strong physically, and that’s part of their game, ” Hunt said, and she added that Australia match that profile. Hunt’s comments follow Alanna Kennedy’s move into midfield, a shift that has coincided with four goals for Kennedy at this tournament.

Fitness is shaping selection. Hayley Raso suffered a concussion in the 4-0 win over Iran and flew with the squad on Monday; she will attempt to prove her fitness over the next 48 hours. Steph Catley was concussed in the 3-3 draw with South Korea and only landed in Perth on Tuesday, making her highly unlikely to feature against Korea DPR. Under AFC tournament rules, there is no minimum time on the sidelines for players with concussion, so return hinges on medical clearance.

Courtney Nevin replaced Catley against South Korea and endured a difficult outing: her handball conceded a penalty and she was unable to prevent South Korea’s third goal. Those are the immediate choices coach and staff must weigh for a high-stakes match in Perth.

Matildas Next Game at Perth Rectangular Stadium on March 13 (ET)

This quarter-final pits Australia against a Korea DPR side that finished second in Group B after a 2-1 defeat to China PR. Korea DPR opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan and followed with a 5-0 win over Bangladesh before losing to China PR, and this is their first AFC Women’s Asian Cup appearance since 2010.

Korea DPR arrive with youth credentials: they won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2024 and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2024 and 2025, and six players in their current squad were part of that 2024 U20 winning group. Choe Il-Son, who won the AFC Women’s Youth Player of the Year in 2025 and Golden Ball awards at those youth World Cups, has not been among Korea DPR’s starting players in this tournament. Coach Ri Song Ho named the same Starting XI for all three group games, and fatigue or senior-level inexperience may have shown in the defeat to China PR.

Offensively, Myong Yu-Jong scored a hat-trick in the opening win against Uzbekistan and sits atop the golden boot race alongside Alanna Kennedy on four goals. Kim Song-Gyong has created a large number of chances from midfield, adding to the tactical challenge the Matildas will meet in Perth. The winner of this match will also automatically qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.

Sam Kerr on past knock-out defeats and team focus

Sam Kerr has said she is not dwelling on knock-out losses from previous major tournaments. Kerr said the squad has concentrated on their wins instead, citing moments such as the Canada game at the last World Cup and the Great Britain game at the Olympics as examples of when the team delivered when everything was on the line. “We’ve not really talked about the losses; we’ve talked about the ones we’ve won, ” she said, and she added: “I don’t actually think it’s valuable in these moments; you need to think of the positives. “

Kerr also suggested the team believes it has not yet produced its best performance in this tournament and that confidence can still grow before the Perth quarter-final. That perspective will shape selection, tactics and how the Matildas approach a physical Korea DPR side on March 13 (ET).

Back where the piece began, Sam Kerr will lead a Matildas squad into Perth with selection unsettled by concussions and a tight group-stage finish. The next confirmed development is the quarter-final at Perth Rectangular Stadium on March 13 (ET), where Australia and Korea DPR will meet for a place in the semi-finals and automatic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.