'Very, very problematic' injury rocks Matildas despite 4-0 thumping of Iran at Asian Cup
Updated . First published at
The Matildas stormed to a 4-0 Asian Cup victory over Iran at Gold Coast Stadium on Thursday night but will be sweating on the fitness of one of their most electric players.
Hayley Raso is unlikely to play Sunday's crucial game against South Korea after failing to finish the match following two separate blows to the head.
First, Raso was left rattled after taking a powerful ball to the face from point-blank range early in the match.
READ MORE: Eels icon shuts down revenge theory behind Lomax collapse
READ MORE: Eels shellshocked as Storm rack up 52 in thumping
READ MORE: Former teammates clash as Swans rout Blues at SCG
The impact appeared to rattle the winger, who fell awkwardly to the turf and prompted a quick assessment from the Matildas' medical staff.
"This is very, very problematic," Andy Harper said in commentary on Paramount +.
Raso underwent a concussion test and returned to the field after half time.
Hayley Raso suffers a second knock to the head. Network 10
Despite showing her trademark resilience to return to the pitch, she later collected a stray kick to the head that brought her night to a premature end.
"Hayley, to me, looks more uncomfortable with this one compared to the first one," Harper said.
"It is the repeated nature of them that is the worry."
This time the medical staff took no further risks, helping Raso off the pitch and introducing Michelle Heyman for the final minutes.
"It's not what you want to see at all," Grace Gill added.
The loss of Raso will be tough for the Aussies who currently sit second in Group A behind South Korea on goal difference, who they play on Sunday night.
Hayley Raso undergoes a concussion test. Getty
The Matildas need to beat South Korea to secure top spot in the group before advancing to the knockout stages, although they will go through to the knockout stages regardless.
Thursday's victory was fuelled by an Alanna Kennedy brace and Mary Fowler's clinical return.
Kennedy led the charge with two goals, capping off a commanding performance with two goals to ensure Australia took full control of the contest.
Despite an early downpour, the Matildas controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, wasting no time in capitalising on their territorial dominance.
Remy Siemsen takes aim against Raha Yazdani during the Matildas' AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 clash with Iran at Gold Coast Stadium. Cameron Spencer via Getty Images
The pressure told quickly as Amy Sayer struck first, sparking a first-half flurry of goals that saw Fowler and Kennedy join the scoresheet to put Australia firmly in the driver's seat.
Fowler had not scored for Australia in more than a year, having recovered from a serious knee injury in time for the Asian Cup.
"I had a little moment to myself walking out there," Fowler said post-game.
"Just think back on the rehab and appreciate the time I've been away. I was grateful for the moment."
Sayer struck first in the eighth minute with a spectacular, looping strike from outside the box.
What looked like a cross to a lurking Sam Kerr took a wicked dip to find the back of the net, catching goalkeeper Maryam Yektaei completely off guard and giving the Matildas a dream start.
The early strike opened the floodgates as Fowler soon found Kerr in the box, nearly doubling the lead with a sequence that kept the Iranian defence on its heels.
While the pressure was relentless, the Matildas were twice left frustrated — first as Kerr's goal-bound shot was scrambled clear, and then as Caitlin Foord was denied by the offside flag.
However, Fowler eventually doubled the lead in the 27th minute, pouncing on a loose ball spilled by Yektaei.
Displaying poaching instincts, Fowler lunged forward to toe the ball home at the far post, marking her first international start in 332 days in style.
The first-half blitz continued as Kennedy made it 3-0 after connecting with a clean, clinical volley, before Kerr was denied a fourth, having her goal struck off the board after a VAR review found the captain offside by the narrowest of margins.
Despite the comfortable lead, Matildas coach Joe Montemurro opted not to turn to his bench at the half-time break, keeping faith in his starting XI to maintain their rhythm.
Australia was initially awarded a second-half penalty for a handball by Golnoosh Khosravi, but the decision was swiftly overturned after officials determined the ball had deflected off Khosravi's own boot.
The flow of the second half was repeatedly broken as several Iranian players required medical treatment, which visibly stifled the Matildas' momentum.
Kennedy eventually secured her brace, latching onto an Emily van Egmond corner to power home a commanding header.
This triggered a trio of changes as Hayley Raso, Remy Siemsen, and Holly McNamara replaced Kerr, Foord, and Fowler.
In a notable shift from their tournament opener, the Iranian players sang their national anthem ahead of kick-off.
As the anthem played, several players were seen raising their hands to their temples in salute — a symbolic gesture being increasingly used by Iranian athletes to signal solidarity with their homeland during this time of war.
The gesture drew a vocal reaction from the stands, with sections of the crowd whistling and cheering.
