Women's World Cup Countdown: Sam Kerr clinches spot in finals for Matildas

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Apr 14, 2018

Australia, arguably the best team in the world over the last year, got a goal from Sam Kerr with four minutes left in to give the Matildas a 1-1 tie with Japan, a result that sent both teams to France ahead of South Korea.



Muzuho Sakaguchi had given Japan the lead in the 62nd minute. But Australia got a break when Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita failed to hold on to Kyah Simon's ball in the area, and Kerr pounced on the rebound. With both teams assured of qualifying with a tie, the pace of the game halted.

Australia, Japan and South Korea finished with five points after they tied each other and all beat Vietnam, the fourth team in their group at the AFC Women's Cup in Jordan.

Australia and Japan join China and Thailand, the other AFC Women's Cup semifinalists, as four of Asia's five representatives at the 2019 Women's World Cup.

South Korea will play the Philippines in the fifth-place game at the AFC Cup for Asia's final berth in France.