Caitlin Foord is speaking on the broadcast following the Matildas’ 1-0 win.

I think we have a lot to work on. We would have loved to get a few more goals, but credit to the Philippines. They worked really hard to keep us out. But our goal today was just to get the win and to get the job done, and we did that. So, happy with that.

They did a great job at [staying compact]. I think, for us, we’ve got to build into this tournament. It’s been a while since we’ve played together. We’re just getting back into the flow of things and building relationships again. That’s going to keep growing and growing with every game we play. Hopefully, the next game a little bit better.

Really, that’s a result that almost feels like it’s a win for both. The Matildas, obviously, get the three points and can now look to build upon their momentum heading into a clash with Iran next Thursday on the Gold Coast and then against South Korea on March 8 in Homebush.

They would have wanted more goals, and they’ll be frustrated, and this can’t be the end-point, but there were enough signs from the way they attempted to break down this low-block to suggest there’s a foundation for better things. More of that Wheeler and Gorry pivot, please.

The Philippines, meanwhile, have faced off with the giants of their group and emerged with their goal difference mostly intact.

With two of the best third-placed sides from the group stages set to advance, they’re now in a really strong position to advance to the knockouts if they can maintain their discipline against South Korea and then beat Iran. And if they do that, they’re just one game away from going to a second-straight World Cup.

95 Mins: Kerr flies at a high up-and-under cross from Gorry, as do several other players, before McDaniel is able to get enough on the ball to clear away the immediate threat.

94 Mins: Some tricky footwork from Fowler on the edge of the area as she looks for an angle against two defenders but her resulting pass bounces awkwardly and can’t be wrangled by Sayer.

92 Mins: Gorry wheels away from some pressure at the top of the box and slides a pass across to Fowler, who winds up and lifts a shot over the crossbar.

91 Mins: We’ll have five minutes of added time at the end of this one: five more minutes for the Matildas to find a second or, alternatively, five more minute for the Philippines to hold out.

90 Mins: A press release from the AFC has come through, as has one from tournament organisers, spruiking that tonight’s crowd of 44,379 for the opening game of the Women’s Asian Cup has set a new record for “highest ever attendance in the competition’s history”.

89 Mins: Foord skips inside and tries to drop a shot inside the top corner but it gets away from her and goes out for a goal kick.

Jourdyn Curran has come on for Eggesvik for the Philippines, while Isabella Paison has entered for Guillou.

86 Mins: Hunt drives a pass through to Fowler, whose first touch takes the ball inside and tees her up to whip the ball into the box. It takes a deflection and spills to Sayer but her rapid toe poke is saved comfortably by McDaniel.

82 Mins: Catley! The defender gets into the penalty area and blasts an effort goalward but she just can’t quite get her left foot around the ball properly and the shot blazes wide.

81 Mins: Raso’s evening comes to an end, with the winger the one to make way for Sayer. The 81 minutes Raso has got through tonight are the most she’s logged in a single game since the last time she played for the Matildas back in December.

79 Mins: Heatley sends a ball into Kerr inside the penalty area but the skipper’s attempt to swivel and shoot isn’t quite on point and the ball sails out for a goal kick.

Amy Sayer preparing to come on for the Matildas.

77 Mins: Gorry feeds the ball to Fowler’s feet inside the penalty area but her attempts to turn runs right into a blue shirt and the threat is seen off.

There’s no sense at all that the Filipinas are going to be a threat in transition but there’s nonetheless perhaps a feeling of frustration and nervousness seeping into the Matildas’ game.

74 Mins: Gorry moves into the penalty area and lets loose with a shot but it’s too close to the near post and McDaniel is once again in a good spot to make the save.

73 Mins: Foord, Catley, and Fowler all try to work a combination on the left but the Filipinas get numbers back and see off the threat once more. It’s currently 85% to 15% possession in favour of the hosts. Yep.

69 Mins: Raso cops a wicked falcon and goes down requiring treatment. Fortunately, she doesn’t appear any worse for wear and is soon back out there.

68 Mins: A big cheer goes up from the crowd as Montemurro sends Mary Fowler into the fray. She replaces Van Egmond, while Wheeler’s fine shift has ended as she gives way for Alanna Kennedy – who at this stage seems to be seen as a six in the coach’s eyes.

66 Mins: Wheeler winds up from outside the penalty area but McDaniel is positioned well and makes the comfortable claim at her near post.

Speaking to how well the backline in front of her have defended as a unit, it’s the first save the keeper has had to make in this second half.

65 Mins: Mary Folwer pictured on the broadcast. Sans bib? Is she coming on?

63 Mins: The Philippines a rare period of… extended possession feels like too strong a word but they certainly saw a bit of the ball in those last few minutes. After some nice work on the right from Guy, Harrison tries to send a cross in but it’s closed down quickly and the move soon peters out.

Torcaso has also opted to make a further two changes to his side: Mallie Ramirez has come on for Olivia McDaniel and Ariana Markey has entered for Frilles

58 Mins: Heatley slices a pass through the lines for Kerr, who takes the ball out wide with her touch and looks up hoping to spy a teammate’s run to the backpost. There’s none forthcoming, though, and her lob is cleared away.

56 Mins: Gorry thinks about a long-range bomb – we know she has that in her locker – but she instead opts to lay it off to Carpenter. Her attempt to drag a cross to the back post, though, gets away from her and it sails away for a goal kick.

55 Mins: Raso again works her way into space on the right and is able to lift a cross towards Kerr and Foord, who have stolen a march on their defenders, but the move is snuffed out when Olivia McDaniel comes out to make a strong claim.

53 Mins: A rare moment of indecisive defence from the Philippines sees them fail to properly clear a Raso cross in, with it spilling out to Foord instead. The scrambling response from the Filipinas, however, proves up to the task and the move passes without a goal.

51 Mins: Beard sees off Raso and turns the ball out for a corner. Van Egmond lifts it towardds the penalty spot where Kerr is there to meet it but her header is guided wide.

50 Mins: We did have one change made at the halftime break and it came from the Philippines: youngster Jael-Marie Guy coming on in place of Pino – the latter celebrating her 19th birthday today.

49 Mins: Raso again darts down the right flank and whips a cross in but Foord is bundled over by Long at the back post, fairly, and the visitors see of another threat.

47 Mins: Van Egmond whips a corner in which Olivia McDaniel spills when she comes to claim. The Philippines want a free kick but they’re not going to get one, and their attempt to transition forward moments later is quickly snuffed out.

46 Mins: We are back underway in the second stanza and the Matildas quickly get forward again: Long getting in the road of an attempted cutback from Raso and putting the ball out for a corner.

If you’re the Philippines, that half obviously wasn’t perfect – you’d rather Sam Kerr not have scored – but it still went pretty well.

This was always going to be a game that the Filipinas needed to manage as they look ahead to clashes with Iran and South Korea, the games where their progression to the knockouts as either a second-placed finisher or one of the best third-placed sides will be determined.

And given how crucial goal difference could prove in the latter, to only be down one goal after 45 minutes is a major positive.

45 Mins: Just the one minute of extra time to be added.

44 Mins: Foord drives into the penalty area from the left but her attempt to drill a ball into Kerr is blocked away. The Philippines’ defending there somewhat exemplified what they’ve been doing throughout the opening stanza: when the ball was knocked away from the Australian skipper, there were seven players in blue back in the penalty area looking to defend.

42 Mins: Joe Montemurro has emerged from his seat in the dugout and is stalking the edge of his technical area. He’ll probably not be very happy to be up just a single goal but his side are playing some nice football regardless.

40 Mins: The Matildas have themselves in a dangerous position just outside the penalty area and Catley looks to bend it inside the post. But Olivia McDaniel is up to the challenge and pushes it away for a corner.

37 Mins: They’ve had hardly any of the ball but credit needs to be given for the work that the Philippines are doing defensively – they’re moving together as a unit, ensuring that whoever is challenging for the ball has cover, and getting multiple bodies around the ball on higher balls into the box.

35 Mins: Carpenter, van Egmond, and Kerr all combine to try and spring the former into space on the right, only for the defender to be pegged back by an offside flag.

33 Mins: The disallowed goal hasn’t done much to change the complexion of this game, with the Matildas picking right back up where they left off and poking and prodding, seeking a second that will actually count.

30 Mins: Boos ring out at Perth Stadium as the VAR determines that Raso was just unable to time her run and had strayed into an offside position. The crowd might not like it but replays show that it was comfortably the correct call.

29 Mins: The Matildas have their two-goal buffer! Gorry lofts a perfectly weighted ball onto the run of Raso in behind the lines, she chests it down and pokes it beyond the advancing Olivia McDaniel.

Hold on… replays show VAR might be having a word here…

27 Mins: The routine of this game is now well established. The Matildas poke and prod, look to drag an opponent out of position, and then exploit the space that’s been left behind.

van Egmond looks to drive a long-ball onto the head of Kerr atop the six-yard-box but she’s working against several defenders and it’s cleared away.

25 Mins: So the word from the commentary is that Kyra Cooney-Cross is being “rested” for tonight’s game.

22 Mins: A brief move forward by the Philippines is quickly snuffed out and the Matildas resume their threat once more. A Raso dummy springs Wheeler into some space on the right but her attempted cutback is blocked away.

21 Mins: The Matildas get themselves a free kick on the right, with Catley standing over the ball and staring down a two-player wall.

The Arsenal defender bends it towards the back post, with it just floating over the head of Kerr and getting punched away by O McDaniel. It wouldn’t have counted even if the skipper had turned it goalward, as the flag has gone up.

18 Mins: It probably should be two. Raso finds some space on the right and lifts the ball onto the head of van Egmond atop the six-yard-box but the midfielder’s unchallenged header is sent wide.

17 Mins: Normal service has quickly resumed for the Matildas, once again seizing control of possession and nibbling around the edge of an embedded Philippines defence.

We shouldn’t expect much different. Realistically, the Filipinas were never going to have their knockout phase destiny decided tonight – that will come against Iran and South Korea – and it will be important for them to avoid any kind of blowout that destroys their goal difference in the remaining 70 odd minutes.

13 Mins: Catley’s outswinger from the left glances off the head of Chandler McDaniel and finds its way through to a teammate just outside the penalty area. A resulting long-shot threatens to snake its way through but the Philippines are able to get a body in the road at the last.

12 Mins: Not needing to worry too much about being caught in transition, Catley gets down the left and tries to thread a cross to a waiting teammate. It’s blocked away but Foord picks up the baton and wins another corner on the left.

11 Mins: The Philippines have a free kick just inside their own half and use the opportunity to pile numbers forward. Olivia McDaniel’s blast forward, however, is claimed comfortably by Lincoln.

10 Mins: More poking and probing by the Matildas but they continue to crash up against the low block that has been erected on the edge of the Philippines penalty area. After getting hammered 8-0 in the last meeting between these two sides, the underdogs aren’t going to allow similar to happen this time around.

7 Mins: Mark Torcaso is shown on the Philippines bench. The 44-year-old took over the side following the departure of Alen Stajcic, initially juggling the role with his position at A-League Women side Western United, where he was a coach of the year, before taking on the job full-time. Sitting next to him is assistant Riccardo Marchioli, a former Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory assistant coach.

Both of the pair have links not just to the A-League but also the NPL Victoria: Torcaso coaching Calder United to dominance in the NPL Women and Marchioli a former coach of Brunswick City and Hume City.

6 Mins: Need inspiration? Enter Foord. The winger creates the Matildas first real moment of threat when she drives down the left and cuts the ball back, inducing her opponent’s to scramble the ball out for a corner.

Catley swings an out swinging delivery in but the Philippines are able to scramble it clear for a throw-in.

5 Mins: The Australians continue to monopolise possession but, in these early stages at least, aren’t exactly doing much to threaten their opponent’s low block.

3 Mins: A poor giveaway by Carpenter sees Eggesvik grab the ball and loft the ball goalward from well inside her own half.

Now, maybe it’s worth a few early attempts for the Philippines given that Lincoln’s probably feeling the nerves in the early stages of her unlikely start, but the keeper had time to go an make herself a calming cup of tea in the time it took that shot to arrive.

2 Mins: The Philippines clear the ball away and use a throw in of their own to hurl the ball into Australia’s side of the pitch. A second throw gives Beard a chance to gain further territory but Carpenter eventually wins it and the Philippines retreat back into their block.

1 Min: It’s the Matildas who have the opening kickoff and they quickly move the ball forward against what, we expect, will be a very deep Philippines block. Carpenter has a throw-in on the right hand side.

The anthems have been sung, kick-off here come!

Both sets of teams are now making their way out onto the pitch. The national anthems will follow and then, finally, kick-off.

James Paraskevas, meanwhile, has got in touch via email. “I am looking forward to this tournament, especially to see some of the other “non big 4” teams. I have seen the Matildas probably drop a bit in standard since 23. We have had some disappointing campaigns and losses. Tonight should be “comfortable”, but don’t be too surprised if Philippines score a goal or keep the scoreline tight.”

Wait! I do know her! That’s Audrey Nuna, the English-language singer for Mira of K-Pop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X! I take it all back. Give her as long as she wants. The Honmoon must be protected.

The opening ceremonies are currently being staged on the Perth Stadium. Lots of dancing, singing, and lights. “Say yeah,” indeed.

I have no idea who these people are but I’m also not the target audience and know it’s important to let people enjoy things, so I hope you’re rocking out if you’re watching.

Joe Montemurro speaking on the broadcast, asked about the sudden glut of injuries to his goalkeeping stocks.

‘You have unexpected situations that happen in all tournaments. It was an unfortunate situation, we’re prepared to deal with it. And it’s an opportunity.’

The coach also declares that Mary Fowler’s absence from tonight’s starting XI isn’t down to her fitness as she returns from her ACL but, instead, is a “technical” one as she attempts to integrate into the squad and his plans.

No word on why Cooney-Cross isn’t in the squad from his flash interview, however.

If you are just checking in after a long break, it shouldn’t take you too long to come to grips with who is in the squad and who isn’t as, for all the talk of renewal and generational change under Joe Montemurro, there’s plenty of familiar faces in the 26-player squad. Here’s a player-by-player guide of each and every member.

Drawn in by the prospect of another home tournament (assuming you live in Perth, the Gold Coast, or Sydney), are you checking back in for the first time since that fateful semifinal agianst England just over three years ago? Wondering what’s happened with the Matildas since?

Jo Khan and Martin Pegan have you covered with a timeline of everything that’s gone down since then.

Questions about the Women’s Asian Cup or how it works? Jo Khan may just have you covered with her explainer.

The Women’s Asian Cup is a sequel with a difference. Not bigger, and surely not better than the magnificent 2023 World Cup, when the Matildas entranced Australia during their run to the semi-finals.

But there is enough intrigue in the script – coaching frenemies, unlikely injury comebacks, last hurrahs, footballing minnows and mirrors of multicultural Australia, even fairytale romance – that it will hold the nation’s football community riveted. Whether the continental championship bursts out into a broader cultural phenomenon, however, will be one of the compelling questions of the next three weeks.

Jack Snape with his pre-game view from Perth.

With Micah and Whyman out and Arnold under a cloud, tonight’s tournament opener could ostensibly see Chloe Lincoln, herself only called up following Micah’s withdrawal, don the gloves.

Capped three times by the Matildas, the 21-year-old has long been highly-rated within the national team setup and has previously been part of two-Young Matildas squads that went to U20 World Cups. She also actually in season, giving her something of a leg-up on still in pre-season Arnold, who is signed to NSWL side Portland Thorns.

However, if not for her longstanding reputation within the national team setup it’s almost certain that Lincoln wouldn’t have been called into the squad, given her A-League Women form with Brisbane Roar has seen her ship more goals than any other keeper – 1.9 goals per game – and been adjudged, per Fotmob, to have prevented -6.4 goals, the worst figure in the competition.

In case you’ve missed today’s biggest pre-game news, the Matildas have been forced to make a late change to their 26-player squad, with goalkeeper Jada Whyman succumbing to a knee injury and replaced in the squad by Perth-local Morgan Aquino, who had already been on location as a train-on player.

After already losing presumptive number one Tegan Micah to concussion, the absence of Whyman creates a significant headache for coach Joe Montemurro, given that Mackenzie Arnold, who ostensibly would have been the obvious starter in Micah’s absence, will enter this evening under a significant fitness cloud.