Clare Hunt and Australia are into the Women’s Asian Cup final!
Receiving a call-up to the squad to compete in her first Asian Cup, the defender, who has featured in all five games in the tournament so far, has helped the Matildas reach the final on home soil after her nation edged past defending champions China PR 2-1 in the semi-finals on Tuesday morning.
Retaining her spot in the starting XI for the clash in Perth, the host nation got off to the perfect start when Caitlin Foord fired them into the lead just inside the opening quarter of the game but, on 26 minutes, they were pegged back as Zhang Linyan converted from the penalty spot to level the scores.
However, just before the hour mark, Australia reinstated their lead as Sam Kerr rounded the opponents goalkeeper and slotted home into the empty net, and that proved to be the winning goal to book a spot in the showpiece event on Saturday.
It will be Clare’s maiden major international final with her country as Australia look to claim the trophy for the first time since 2010.
This year’s final will take place in Sydney on Saturday 21 March at the Accor Stadium with Australia’s opponents to be determined as Toko Koga and Maika Hamano’s Japan take on South Korea on Wednesday (18 March) morning.