Torpey Steals the Show on Her Birthday as Matildas Edge Out China to Seal Asian Cup Final Berth
What a night in Perth. What a performance. And what a way to spend your 26th birthday.
The Matildas have booked their place in the AFC Women's Asian Cup final following a gritty, gutsy, and gloriously Sam Kerr-inspired 2-1 win over the reigning champions, China. But while Kerr's moment of magic will rightly dominate the back pages, anyone at a packed Perth Stadium or glued to their screens knows exactly who set the whole thing in motion. Step forward, Kaitlyn Torpey.
Just over a year ago, Torpey was making her debut as Matilda #227. Now, she's undroppable. Brought into the side due to Steph Catley's concussion in the final group game, the Newcastle United defender has made the left-back spot her own. Even with Catley fit and back in the starting XI against China—slotting in at centre-back—Torpey kept her place. And boy, did she repay that faith.
It wasn't just that Torpey kept Chinese winger Zhang Linyan quiet. It was the way she combined defensive steel with the kind of attacking thrust that makes this Matildas side so devastating. She was a constant outlet, linking up play and launching probing runs that had the Chinese defence on the back foot all night.
But her defining moment arrived just before the hour mark. With the scores locked at 1-1 and China asking serious questions, Torpey produced a moment of sheer desperation and quality. She lunged to toe-poke a loose ball away from danger and, in the same movement, directed it perfectly into the path of Kerr. From there, the skipper did the rest, feeding Foord and then pulling off that ridiculous angled finish that only she can. "You Don't Know Us Like That" might be the motto, but we're starting to learn that when the chips are down, Torpey is someone you want in the trenches.
The first half had everything. Caitlin Foord, who's been tearing it up for Arsenal Women this season, continued her superb tournament with a cool 17th-minute finish, slotting home after some sublime build-up play involving Ellie Carpenter and Mary Fowler. But against the run of play, a moment of miscommunication between Clare Hunt and Mackenzie Arnold saw China awarded a soft penalty, which Zhang Linyan tucked away to level things up.
It was rough out there. Katrina Gorry was absolutely immense in the middle of the park, but she copped a battering for her troubles. A particularly nasty, studs-up swipe from Wang Aifang in the first half somehow only warranted a yellow card, but it summed up the physical battle "Mini" was willing to wage. She just kept getting up, kept winning the ball, and kept driving the team forward. It was vintage Gorry.
The night also belonged to a true legend of the game. When Emily van Egmond stepped onto the pitch deep in stoppage time, she didn't just help see out the win—she made history. Her 170th appearance sees her overtake Clare Polkinghorne as the most-capped Matilda of all time. In a squad bursting with talent and experience, that's a stat that tells you everything about her class and longevity.
And let's not forget the welcome return of Cortnee Vine. After missing the group stages through injury, Vine got her first minutes off the bench and immediately injected that direct, fearless running we all love. The HeymIN podcast crew and the Under the Cosh lads have been banging on about our depth for weeks—and nights like this prove they weren't just blowing smoke. This squad runs so deep you could pick two different XIs and still make a final.
So, what's next? A date in Sydney on Saturday night against either Japan or South Korea. The trophy—and a spot at the World Cup in Brazil—is on the line.
Before we look ahead to the final, let's take a moment to appreciate just how good this squad is. Here are a few things that stood out against China:
- The Full-Back Combo: Carpenter was electric down the right, but Torpey's rise gives Montemurro a nightmare (in the best way) selection headache. Having Catley able to slide inside shows the tactical flexibility we've got.
- The Spine: Gorry battling in midfield, Foord's direct running (which Arsenal fans have been raving about all year), and Kerr's genius. When those three are on song, we can beat anyone.
- The Depth: With Vine back and players like Torpey stepping up, it's not just a starting eleven—it's a full squad that believes. You hear it in the way they talk on podcasts like HeymIN and Under the Cosh—this group is tighter than ever.
Forget the friendlies and the previews—this is the real deal. Matildas vs Mexico and Matildas vs China in the lead-up were just the warm-up acts. The main event is here. And with Kaitlyn Torpey playing like this, and Vine back in the mix, you wouldn't bet against this side going all the way.