Torpey Celebrates Birthday in Style as Matildas Edge Out China to Book Asian Cup Final Berth
What a night in Perth. What a performance. And honestly, what a way to spend your 26th birthday.
The Matildas have punched their ticket to the AFC Women's Asian Cup final after a gritty, hard-fought, and brilliantly Sam Kerr-inspired 2-1 win over the reigning champions, China. But while Kerr's moment of brilliance will rightly grab the headlines, anyone packed into a buzzing Perth Stadium or glued to their screens knows exactly who got things rolling. That would be one Kaitlyn Torpey.
Just over a year ago, Torpey was making her debut as Matilda #227. Now? She's undroppable. Called up after 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 into 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 mixed defensive grit with the kind of attacking flair that makes this Matildas side so dangerous. She was a constant threat down the flank, linking up play and launching probing runs that had the Chinese defence back-pedalling all night.
But her defining moment came just before the hour mark. With the scores locked at 1-1 and China turning up the heat, Torpey produced a moment of pure desperation and sheer quality. She lunged to poke a loose ball away from danger and, in the same motion, directed it perfectly into Kerr's path. From there, the skipper did the rest, feeding Foord and then pulling off that ridiculous angled finish only she can. "You Don't Know Us Like That" might be the motto, but we're starting to figure out that when the pressure's on, Torpey is exactly who you want in the trenches.
The first half had everything. Caitlin Foord, who's been tearing it up for Arsenal Women this season, kept her red-hot form going with a cool 17th-minute finish, slotting home after some slick build-up play involving Ellie Carpenter and Mary Fowler. But against the run of play, a mix-up between Clare Hunt and Mackenzie Arnold gifted China a soft penalty, which Zhang Linyan calmly tucked away to level things up.
It was a physical battle out there. Katrina Gorry was absolutely immense in the middle of the park, but she copped a fair bit of punishment for her efforts. A particularly nasty, studs-up challenge from Wang Aifang in the first half somehow only drew a yellow card, but it summed up the kind of fight "Mini" was willing to put up. She just kept getting up, kept winning the ball, and kept driving the team forward. Pure 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 etched her name into the history books. Her 170th appearance sees her overtake Clare Polkinghorne as the most-capped Matilda of all time. In a squad stacked with talent and experience, that stat says 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 going on about our depth for weeks—and nights like this prove they weren't just talking nonsense. 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's depth really 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 possible) 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 these three are firing, we can beat anyone.
- The Depth: With Vine back and players like Torpey stepping up, it's not just about the starting eleven—it's a full squad that believes. You can 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 warm-ups—this is the real deal. Matildas vs Mexico and Matildas vs China in the lead-up were just the appetisers. 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.