Catch up on our full report from Allianz Stadium as the Matildas returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win over South Korea.

92 mins: Torpey and Heyman combine well down the right to work their way into the box but then lack the composure to finish off the job. A tame cross gives the ball back to the South Korea keeper as the visitors set off on another attack. Five minutes of added time.

90 mins: The Matildas are inviting pressure now as they sit back and let South Korea play around the back. Still time for an equaliser yet it looks like Australia are largely holding out for the final whistle.

88 mins: Ji Soyun almost has a late say on proceedings, just as she did when these sides met at the last Women’s Asian Cup. A searching ball is just out of reach of Choo Hyojoo in the box and Australia will take all the time that they can to collect their thoughts.

86 mins: Micah is called into action again from another corner. The keeper fails to clear at the first attempt as her fist can only send the ball straight up in the air. Micah is able to desperately clear it away the second time while standing on the goalline.

85 mins: What a save! The Matildas have kept the door ajar by failing to make the most of their chances and South Korea very nearly step through it. A cross, a second ball and a header from Shin Nayeong towards the bottom corner is heading in if not for a diving save from Micah.

83 mins: One-way traffic now as the Matildas set up in their attacking third. Heyman has a header cleared off the goalline, Cooney-Cross can’t quite get the ball out of her feet when directly in front of goal, then Fowler has perhaps the best chance of the lot with a strike on her right boot that is on target if not for being blocked.

81 mins: Clare Wheeler has been influential in the midfield since coming on, comfortable with the ball at her feet and looking to quickly turn.

79 mins: Oh, Mary! Fowler has barely touched the ball since coming on but is now only millimetres away from scoring. Michelle Heyman surges forward, threatening the South Korea defence before Fowler has the ball at her feet. One touch, a second touch and she’s almost through on goal before tripping over the ball. The attacker throws a left boot at the ball and it curls past the keeper and narrowly wide of the goal.

76 mins: 37,199 fans in the house.

74 mins: A South Korea corner quickly becomes a chance for the Matildas as Cooney-Cross blazes a path through the midfield. Michelle Heyman, who has been on for barely two minutes in place of Tameka Yallop, is along side her as the South Korea defence desperately retreats, but Cooney-Cross takes the shot on herself and can only send it high and wide.

71 mins: More changes for the Matildas with Mary Fowler entering the attack. South Korea won’t be too displeased to see Caitlin Foord making way, after the forward has been a class above this evening and showed how easily she can turn a game when in full flight.

69 mins: Caitlin Foord collects, spins and releases the ball in one action to find Tameka Yallop on her own on the left side of the box. Yallop has time to pick her spot but shoots straight at keeper Kim Minjung. The Matildas keep the door open.

66 mins: Torpey almost makes an immediate impact as she takes on the South Korea defence. The 25-year-old must have been narrowly onside as the flag stays down but is unable to complete the play.

63 mins: Mass changes for the Matildas. A shame to see Holly McNamara make way along with Wini Heatley and Jamilla Rankin. Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Wheeler and Courtney Nevin join the fun.

61 mins: Steph Catley forces a gap down the left side as the Matildas skipper is pushed, pulled, grabbed by the shirt and still almost finds space for a cross before running out of road.

59 mins: The Matildas have been forced to take a seat under several robust challenges this evening but this time it appears to be cramp as Jamilla Rankin takes a breather. Substitutes coming soon.

56 mins: The Matildas celebrate with Emily van Egmond but the veteran midfielder is unlikely to be awarded the goal. The flowers should really go to Caitlin Foord anyway, with the attacker’s control at pace while charging through the midfield putting fear in the backtracking South Korea defence to set up the shot.

51 mins: The Matildas have begun the second half in much the same manner as they did the first – full of energy with a high press proving difficult to break through.

49 mins: McNamara picks up where she left off in the first half as one-touch passing from Catley and then van Egmond releases the young attacker in the box. The darting cross can’t find feet as it sails through and beyond the six-yard box.

47 mins: Catley’s free kick causes chaos in the box but the South Korea defence gradually get the scramble back under control.

46 mins: The second half begins and almost immediately hearts are in Matildas mouths as Kyra Cooney-Cross crashes heavily to the turf. The midfielder takes quite some time to get to her feet but eventually we are back under way.

South Korea have had more of the possession at 57-43% while the Matildas have edged the shots on goal 5-4 as both sides have directed two on target. But it is the increased action in near the opposition goal that will please interim coach Tom Sermanni, with the Matildas clearly in front 10-3 for touches in the box and spending considerably more time in their attacking third.

Now to find a way to turn that territorial advantage into a goal threat, whether with or without key playmaker Mary Fowler in the second half.

46 mins: A wonderful ball from Holly McNamara releases Caitlin Foord charging into the penalty box. The Matildas attacker takes the shot early and aims high towards the far post but it is a comfortable height for the South Korea keeper.

44 mins: Grant gives the ball away again then is fortunate to avoid a caution after leaning into a challenge. The right-back is full of gusto at the moment but might appreciate the break.

42 mins: The Matildas are back to pressing as the clock ticks down towards half-time. That forces an error as Grant bursts forward to intercept a limp South Korea pass but immediately gives the ball back.

40 mins: South Korea have a foothold in the game now with the Matildas doing little to threaten since Foord went down after a head clash. Charli Grant takes on a pair of South Koreans down the right and almost gets a cross in before running out of room as the ball trickles out for a goal kick.

38 mins: Foord has had enough of waiting and watching as the pacey forward charges into the South Korea defence to force a long ball out from the keeper.

36 mins: Sloppy passing from both sides keeps the ball flipping back and forth before the Matildas settle back into a 4-4-2 and South Korea knock it around the back under little pressure. Let’s hope this is the calm before the storm with 10 minutes still left in the half.

34 mins: Signs of fatigue as the game opens up at both ends of the pitch. Holly McNamara races away from the South Korea defence but is unable to find a path closer to goal.

32 mins: Matildas fans hardly be to reminded of the danger that Ji Soyung can present, after she scored the match-winner in the quarter-final clash at the last Asian Cup, as the South Korea veteran has another shot on goal.

30 mins: South Korea have the first shot on target as Ji Soyun almost returns to haunt the Matildas with a strike from outside the box. Micah dives low to her right to collect.

28 mins: South Korea keep pressing forward but even after stretching the Matildas defence are unable to truly test shotstopper Teagan Micah.

26 mins: The break in play has worked well for South Korea as they enjoy their first extended spell of possession. The Matildas are still dropping into a 4-4-2 without the ball, but closer to a 3-3-4 when on the attack.

24 mins: Foord is back on her feet and standing on the wrong side of the sideline as play resumes. The Matildas attacker has made a bright start and looks itching to return to the fray.

23 mins: Mary Fowler is among the substitutes warming up on the sidelines with Caitlin Foord’s nose still gushing blood.

21 mins: Caitlin Foord goes to ground after a coming together with South Korea’s Choe Yuri. A clash of heads leaves Foord on the turf and needing attention for a nose bleed.

20 mins: Matildas keeper Teagan Micah is called into action for the first time but comfortably collects a tame shot.

18 mins: An exquisite back heel from Kyra Cooney-Cross opens up the South Korea defence as the midfielder finds Wini Heatley in the box. The young defender tries to wrap a left boot around the ball but another shot is blocked. Promising signs for the Matildas but they are yet to take full advantage.

16 mins: Holly McNamara has time and space in the box after clever play from Charli Grant, but the young striker takes a heavy touch that allows the South Korea defence to reset just in time to block the shot.

14 mins: Tameka Yallop wins the ball back as South Korea try to clear their defence and fires in a rocket from outside the penalty box. It’s heading for the top left corner but keeper Kim Minjung makes a diving save.

12 mins: Catley’s free kick drops fractionally short and South Korea are able to gradually work their way up the field. A speedy switch from the right to left side finds a way into the box for the first time but the Matildas defence is waiting for Choo Hyojoo’s cross.

10 mins: Holly McNamara turns on the afterburners playing off the shoulder of the South Korea defence. Shin Nayeong brings her down to give the Matildas another free kick in a dangerous area on the right and might be pleased to have avoided a caution.

7 mins: The crowd are saving their biggest cheers for injured striker Sam Kerr but on the field Caitlin Foord has started with great energy and taken command of the Matildas’ front line.

5 mins: The Matildas have set up camp in South Korea’s half as 17-year-old Casey Phair brings down Australia’s starting debutant Jamilla Rankin in a dangerous area.

3 mins: The Matildas have another half-chance with South Korea looking nervy in their own box before clearing the danger.

1 min: The Matildas straight onto the attack as captain Steph Catley swings in a free kick from the right-hand side and young striker Holly McNamara almost pounces on a loose ball in the box.

The national anthems are complete and the players are taking their positions as we’re moments away from kick off at Allianz Stadium.

The Matildas have faced a mini-injury crisis for these two friendlies against South Korea while being boosted by the return of Sam Kerr to the camp. The injured captain won’t be taking the field this evening, or in Newcastle on Monday, as she reprises her role from the early stages of the Women’s World Cup as the Matildas No 1 fan.

The Matildas will be below full-strength in attack with captain Sam Kerr still on the comeback trail from a serious knee injury, Hayley Raso now also sidelined and playmaker Mary Fowler set to play limited minutes off the bench.

But this highly-touted striker Holly McNamara a chance to shine and she arrives in red-hot form for Melbourne City including with the decisive goal against Wellington last weekend. The 22-year-old has made five appearances for the national side but is still searching for a breakthrough goal.

Football Australia say that this game at Allianz Stadium is sold out, though it remains to be seen how many members of the venue show up to take their seats.

Those that are here are suitably keen to add some colour to the festitivies.

Sam Kerr has joined up with the Matildas camp for the first time since rupturing an ACL while training with Chelsea in 2023, and has also wound her way through a high-profile criminal trial where she was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment in February.

Football Australia has since decided not to impose any further sanctions on their star striker for the late-night incident in the UK during which she verbally abused a police officer, with Matildas including veteran midfielder Emily van Egmond throwing their support behind Kerr to continue as captain of the national side.

The Matildas will face South Korea with interim head coach Tom Sermanni still in charge for at least these two friendlies and possibly a couple more against Argentina in late May and early June. Sermanni has been a steadying hand during his third stint as Matildas coach but Football Australia surely needs to ramp up its search – or more likely, negotiations – for someone to take the reins heading into the 2026 Asian Cup.

Joe Montemurro is tipped to be among the frontrunners, along with Western United men’s coach John Aloisi. Sermanni would be comfortable with the current Lyon coach taking over as his permanent successor, yesterday describing Montemurro as an “outstanding coach”.