Matildas lose Asian Cup Final to Japan, the most unlikely of hattricks and A-League Men Round 22 Review
March 22, 20261h 7m
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Show Notes
Matildas Fall Short in Asian Cup Final
- Matildas lose 1-0 to Japan Women's National Team in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Final
- 74,000+ crowd; big TV audience across Australia
- Early 17th-minute wonder goal proves decisive
- Strong start + dominant final 20 minutes but no equaliser
- Caitlin Foord missed key chances
- Alanna Kennedy named tournament MVP
- Tactical shift: 4-3-1-2 → 4-2-3-1
- Focus now turns to 2027 Women’s World Cup
Legacy News:
- Proposed NSW Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Legacy Fund ($34M annually for 10 years)
Aussies Abroad Highlights
- Jacob Italiano scores hat-trick in Austria after Socceroos recall
- Archie Goodwin bags debut MLS double for Charlotte
- Patrick Yazbek shines in Nashville’s 5-0 win
- Kye Rowles clean sheet for DC United
UK & Europe:
- Riley McGree 90 mins in Middlesbrough draw
- Nestory Irankunda plays full match for Watford
- Joe Gauci 4 clean sheets in 6 games (Port Vale)
- Cam Devlin returns in Hearts win
- Alessandro Circati starts for Parma
A-League Men – Finals Race Heats Up
Top Storylines:
- Macarthur FC upset Auckland FC 2-1 → back in top 6
- Newcastle Jets beat Sydney FC 2-1 → extend lead
- Adelaide United 4-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
- Luka Jovanovic scores double
- Wellington Phoenix 2-1 Brisbane Roar → finals push alive
- Melbourne Victory 4-1 Central Coast Mariners
- Big comeback; Victory rise to 3rd
Key Talking Points:
- Jets firming as Premiers Plate favourites
- Victory late title charge?
- Mariners slip outside top 6 (game in hand)
- Wanderers’ season unravelling
A-League Women Wrap
- Wellington Phoenix Women def Sydney FC Women 3-1
- Brisbane Roar Women 4-2 Newcastle Jets Women
- Perth Glory Women 0-0 Central Coast Mariners Women
Team of the Week
- GK: Annalee Grove
- DEF: Jacob Italiano, Jake Girdwood-Reich, Panagiotis Kikianis
- MID: Max Burgess, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Cam Peupion, Ethan Alagich
- FWD: Archie Goodwin, Luka Jovanovic, Daisy Brown
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