What. A. Game.
If, for some reason, you went to bed early last night and missed the Women’s Asian Cup final, here’s the headline news: Japan won 1-0.
Disappointing, I know.
But if you watched the game, particularly if you were one of the 74,397 in the crowd at Stadium Australia, you’ll know that there’s only so disappointed an Australian fan can be this morning.
Because the performance put forward by the Matildas was, quite simply, one of the best they’ve ever produced.
Don’t take my word for it - injured Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop labelled last night’s epic, “an immaculate game to watch”, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment.
But at the end of the day, there’s no escaping the feeling that this is the one that got away for this Golden Generation of Matildas players.
Will this group ever have another opportunity to win a major trophy? Perhaps. But will it ever be on home soil again? Not unless some of these players are still going into their 50s.
Regardless, the feeling as the hordes of fans filed slowly towards the exits at the stadium last night was one of overwhelming pride - mixed with a tinge of regret at what might have been.
But much like the Women’s World Cup a few years ago, there’s sure to be an afterglow that will linger for a while, as the nation remembers just why this team is one of the most popular Australia has ever seen.
Chin up, Tillies. You made us proud.
Here’s a look at the reaction and analysis from last night’s game.
We’ll be back with our regular Football360 Daily newsletter tomorrow.
Japan are the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions, holding out a fast finishing Matildas 1-0 in a decider of the utmost gripping tension and quality – the third time Japan has edged Australia on this stage by the same margin.
This one will hurt; a Matildas Golden Generation who slumped to the turf on full-time having exhausted every last sinew they could muster to find an equaliser.
Maika Hamano’s 17th-minute goal, an exquisite, audacious and opportunistic strike, proved to be the difference. These matches are often decided by moments, and this was one worthy of crowning the continent’s best team.
Click the link above to read the full match report and analysis from my co-founder David Weiner.
It all became a bit too much for Steph Catley.
She’d been here twice before, part of the Matildas teams that lost Asian Cup finals to Japan in 2014 and 2018.
But despite all her years of experience, there was nothing to prepare her for how this one felt.
Click the link above to read the gut-wrenching interview with Catley, just moments after the full-time whistle.
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Despite an all-round performance that showed just why Caitlin Foord is rated among the very best wide forwards in the world, the Arsenal star was clearly still stewing over the chances that went begging when she gave an interview shortly after full time at Stadium Australia.
“It’s very disappointing,” Foord said on Paramount+. “We had such an amazing opportunity to be able to do something special here.
“I take a lot of responsibility. I had three really big chances and I need to do better there. It definitely hurts.”
Click the link above to hear from Foord, Sam Kerr and their former Matildas teammates on the post-match coverage on Paramount+.
After lifting the Women’s Asian Cup trophy in Sydney, Japan coach Nils Nielsen signed off in his own unique way – as we’ve become accustomed to in this tournament.
The Dane has won hearts for his bizarre interview and press conference answers, so it was only fitting that his final words were equally zany.
Asked how he would celebrate his team’s triumph, Nielsen responded: “Well, we have a very early flight tomorrow morning. And here in Australia, it’s such a strange country, you know, if the clock is more than 11, you can’t buy a beer. What kind of country is that?”
Read and watch the brilliant post-match comments from Japan’s charismatic coach Nils Nielsen via the link above.
So much talk prior to kick-off was about this generation’s tilt for a trophy, and after full-time, so many of the side’s veteran stars slumped to the turf, with Steph Catley even being brought to tears in her post game interview on Paramount.
Coach Joe Montemurro admits he has a job to do to lift the players after the defeat but is adamant that the way they brought their best performance to the final should provide the belief on the road to the World Cup in Brazil.
He also reiterated that, contrary to talk about this being the last shot at a trophy, his senior stars are not done yet.
Hear what Matildas coach Joe Montemurro had to say immediately after his team’s defeat last night.
That’s all from us for this special Sunday edition of the newsletter. Check out football360.com.au, or visit any of the social media platforms listed below, to get more wash-up from last night’s game, as well as everything else happening in the world of football.
Have a great Sunday.
Antony