The China Mail - Australia join South Korea in quarters of Women's Asian Cup

After South Korea earlier had a comfortable 3-0 win over the Philippines, the Matildas joined them on six points in Pool A after the easy win over Iran.

South Korea, who knocked the Matildas out of the 2022 tournament, top the group on goal difference ahead of the final pool match against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

"At the back of our minds that's always there," Australian midfielder Alanna Kennedy said of the 2022 result.

"But at the forefront is us building into this tournament -- we want a better performance than we had tonight."

After not singing their national anthem in the opening match on Monday, the Iranians took a markedly different approach Thursday, singing the words and saluting.

But from the kick-of it was clear the Australians were far too strong for their opponents, who resorted to time-wasting to try and disrupt the flow of the Matildas.

This led to seven minutes of stoppage time in the first half and 13 minutes at the end of the second.

Australia opened the scoring after just nine minutes when Amy Sayer put in what looked like a cross, only for it to loop over the head of goalkeeper Maryam Yektaei.

Manchester City's Mary Fowler doubled the score after 27 minutes with her 17th goal for the Matildas when Yektaie spilled the ball and Fowler poked it home.

Kennedy scored eight minutes later with a lovely strike from inside the box after being teed up by Sam Kerr, giving the Matildas a 3-0 lead at the break.

Australia would have expected to continue their scoring in the second period, but apart from Kennedy's second goal in the 58th minute, they had nothing more to show for their dominance.

South Korea earlier cruised into the final eight with a dominant 3-0 win over an outmatched Philippines.

The South Koreans, runners-up to China in 2022, scored two goals in the first half and one in the second to book their place in the final eight.

The Philippines tried to take the game to South Korea, but never really looked like scoring.

By contrast, the South Koreans looked dangerous every time they attacked, and were rewarded in the 12th minute when Jeon Yu-gyeong got the ball in the box, turned sharply and fired low past goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.

They made it 2-0 three minutes later, Park Soo-Jeong finding space outside the box and sending a left foot rocket past McDaniel into the top right hand corner.

The Philippines did well in defence to snuff out the South Korean chances, but 16 minutes into the second half, Mun Eun-ju took advantage of a scramble in the box to volley home from close range and seal the match.

M.Chau--ThChM