Burswood, Perth—Returning Star striker Sam Kerr struck with the lone goal in the 14th minute as the Australian Matildas pulled off a 1-0 beating of the Philippine national women’s team at the packed 60,000 seater Perth Stadium here.

After that, the Filipinas refused to let the Matildas score any more goals for the rest of their 95-minutelong opening game in the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup group stage.

The Filipinas’ defense held in the first half, while goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel’s numerous saves in the second half, kept the Philippines’ qualification hopes alive in their campaign which is supported by the Philippine Football Federation and the Philippine Sports Commission.

“We’re disappointed that we lost a game. But, for us, it was all about fighting till the end, in every single game. I think you saw that today. I’m pleased that the team did that. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted. But, its good for us to keep going in the next two games,” said Filipinas coach Mark Torcaso as the Matildas went on to take the Group A leadership.

Kerr, playing her first major tournament since returning from an injury last September, found her opportunity off a series of passes Clare Wheeler’s penetration from the side, and her cross to the center of the box to Caitlin Foord.

The 32-year old Kerr slammed in the opening goal past McDaniel’s outstretched hands at the right, and after she evaded a defending Hali Long.

With the Matildas keeping up the pressure in the early stages of the first half, they had another chance when a long landed in front of Hayley Rasso, whose kick slammed into McDaniel’s chest before it went in.

The attempt was not counted, and the score stayed the same till the end of the first half.

The Matildas two more chances to increase their were foiled by McDaniel’s two handed on Stephanie Catley’s penalty shot in the 40th, and Sofia Wunsch’s disruption of Foord’s charge from the left.

McDaniels accounted for 18 saves for the Filipinas in the second half, who will next meet South Korea on Thursday at the Gold Coast Stadium.

The Matildas could have doubled the score in the 29th minute, but a long pass to Haylee Rasso, and her volley to the right first hit McDaniel in the chest before it went in, and it was nullified by the referee.