- Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord scored hat-tricks on Sunday
- The Matildas defeated the Philippines in Perth
- Australia plays qualifying matches for the Olympic Games
City hero Sam Kerr and Arsenal star Caitlin Foord scored hat-tricks as the Matildas all but assured passage to the next round of Olympic qualifying with an 8-0 defeat to the Philippines in Perth.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 59,155 at Optus Stadium on Sunday, Kerr and Foord scored doubles in the first half as Australia took a 5-0 lead into half-time.
Kerr secured her hat-trick just 24 seconds into the second half when she headed home Mary Fowler’s cross for her 68th goal from 127 internationals.
Foord recorded her own hat-trick in the 56th minute when she danced around an opponent on the byline and curled in her shot from a tight angle.
The result pushed the Matildas to the top of Group A with six points, meaning they only need a draw against Taiwan at HBF Park next Wednesday to guarantee progression to the final qualifying stages in February.
Sam Kerr scored a hat-trick as Australia defeated the Philippines on Sunday
The Matildas captain continued her good start to the season with a treble
Arsenal striker Caitlin Foord also scored three goals at the Optus Stadium
Even with a defeat, the Matildas would either top the group or at least qualify as the best runners-up among the three groups of the Asian confederation.
The only concern from Sunday’s match was a suspected hamstring injury for substitute Cortnee Vine, who came off in the 75th minute just 10 minutes after coming on.
“They’re going to reassess her tomorrow morning,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.
“It’s too early to say if she’ll be decided for the final match, but with my experience I think there’s a very slim chance she’ll be ready.”
The Matildas rested most of their biggest stars in Thursday’s 2-0 win against Iran, but they fielded a strong team against the Philippines in a match that would effectively decide the group winner.
Kerr, Foord, Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley and Fowler were among the ten changes, and it didn’t take long for the floodgates to open.
Fowler opened the scoring in the 15th minute thanks to a clever deflection from Foord.
And the crowd went into an uproar when Kerr scored from close range in the 19th minute after an excellent run from Foord, who beat two opponents before providing the assist.
Tillies supporters were present in large numbers as Kerr greeted the fans after the match
Kerr turned provider for the next goal as she expertly controlled Fowler’s lobbed pass before crossing for Foord to score in the 30th minute.
Foord added another three minutes later when she stopped an opponent before sliding a shot past the goalkeeper as she fell to the ground.
Kerr made it 5-0 on the stroke of half-time when she went one-on-one against the goalkeeper and put the ball into the back of the net.
The Matildas skipper headed home Fowler’s cross just 24 seconds into the second half, and there was celebration in the 56th minute as Foord evaded an opponent to secure her hat-trick.
Kerr, Hayley Raso, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry were sent off in the 65th minute when the job was done, but substitute Clare Wheeler kept the party going with a rocket from the edge of the penalty area in the 72nd minute to score her first to secure an international goal. .
Foord was named player of the match for her three goals and four goal assists.
‘Me and Sam have been playing together for years. And Emily van Egmond is also coming, we have been playing together for just as long,” said Foord when asked about the team’s excellent chemistry.
“I think we clicked today and we were all on the same page.”
World number 44 Philippines, coached by Western United mentor Mark Torcaso, came from behind to beat Taiwan 4-1 in their group stage opener but they were no match for the Matildas.