A Bittersweet Victory for the Matildas
The 2026 Women’s Asian Cup was a moment of pride for Alanna Kennedy, who was named the tournament’s best player. However, the joy of recognition was overshadowed by another heartbreak for the Matildas at a major international event.
In the final held in Sydney on Saturday, Australia fell to a 1-0 defeat against Japan. The decisive goal came from a stunning first-half strike by Maika Hamano, which proved to be the difference in the match.
“It’s kind of sad that we didn’t get the job done,” Kennedy said after the game.
“I think that’s probably what sucked the most, that early goal and then we were chasing the game.”
Despite the loss, the Matildas left the pitch with a sense of accomplishment. Fullback Ellie Carpenter highlighted that the team delivered what she described as “the best footballing performances in a very long while.” However, the night was marred by missed opportunities, including off-nights from key players like Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, as well as a late chance missed by Kennedy that could have sent the game into extra time.
“I think it just came down to that final execution,” Carpenter reflected.
“Fatigue plays a role in this tournament with rotation and all that.
“This is going to hurt for a while… I just don’t think we deserved this loss.”
The Matildas once again left Stadium Australia without a trophy, extending their wait for silverware to 17 years. With the Women’s World Cup in Brazil just 15 months away, the pressure on the team will only increase.
Kennedy, who scored five goals from midfield and was recognized as the tournament’s best player, has been part of a string of near-misses. This includes semi-final finishes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Logic suggests that the window for Australia’s golden generation to win a major trophy may be closing as they approach the end of their careers.
However, Kennedy remains optimistic about the future. Under the guidance of manager Joe Montemurro, she has transitioned into a deep-lying midfielder, and she believes the coaching approach has kept the team competitive.
“It has been a really fun tournament for us as a group,” Kennedy said.
“We just said in our post-match chat that the togetherness and the vibe around the team has felt really nice and really special.
“Hopefully, that can continue under Joe over the next year and into the World Cup.
“The more time you have under someone the better and I definitely feel that with this squad and the coaching staff that we have at the moment.”
As the Matildas prepare for the next chapter of their journey, the focus will be on building on the momentum from the Asian Cup and ensuring that their efforts translate into success on the world stage.
