Fowler helps Australia to Asian Cup opening victory | OneFootball

Women's Team

Asian Cup 2026: How Australia and Japan could play each other

City’s forward was introduced in the 68th-minute and helped the Matildas to the success in the tournament’s curtain-raiser.

The 2026 hosts started strongly and they found the game’s first goal through Sam Kerr who showcased her poacher’s instinct inside the area to head home from close range.

Emily van Egmond came close to doubling Australia’s lead, but she couldn’t direct a header of her own on target from six yards out.

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And the Matlidas thought they had found a second when former City winger Hayley Raso raced behind the Philippines defence, controlled well and fired into the net.

But after consultation with VAR, the officials adjudged the Frankfurt forward to have strayed into an offside position before dispatching.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first, with the hosts applying pressure in the final third but just missing the final action to make it count.

Joe Montemurro then turned to his substitutes on the 68th minute which saw the Fowler come onto the field for her first appearance Australia since returning from a knee injury which kept her on the sidelines for almost a year.

She then injected fresh life into her nation’s attack and she teed up Katrina Gory on the edge of the area who stung the palms of Olivia McDaniel.

However, the Philippines continued to defend valiantly and a second goal evaded Australia.