\n
\n\tPERTH:\u00a0Australia captain Sam Kerr sealed a 2-1 win over China with a stunning second-half goal on Tuesday to put the hosts into their fourth Women\u2019s Asian Cup final.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Matildas will hunt a second trophy in the continental tournament and first since 2010 against Japan or South Korea, who play in the second semifinal in Sydney on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\n\tScoring in front of home-town fans for the third time in the event, Kerr struck the winner on 58 minutes, threading the needle from an acute angle to send the Perth Stadium crowd into delirium. Defending champions China had leveled \u200cthe match with \u200ca Zhang Linyan penalty in the 26th minute following \u200can early strike by Caitlin Foord, who also had a hand in Kerr\u2019s winner.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI can\u2019t really gather my emotions right now,\u201d said Kerr.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI know we came in as one of the favorites but we\u2019ve taken the long road to be here and it just feels so good to be here now in the final.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThese girls are like family to me so it would be a dream come true (to win the final).\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThough Kerr was typically clinical, Australia coach Joe Montemurro would have been frustrated early when \u200cMary Fowler blazed a volley over the \u200cbar in the fifth minute, having been well served by a Kaitlyn Torpey cross.<\/p>\n
\n\tFowler redeemed \u200cherself quickly, though, combining with Ellie Carpenter to set up Foord\u2019s goal after \u200c17 minutes with a neat move down the right wing.<\/p>\n
\n\tTaking the ball from Carpenter near the 6-yard box, Fowler\u2019s cut-back pass found Foord who fired a low shot home, belated reward for the Arsenal forward after a quiet tournament.<\/p>\n
\n\tAustralia\u2019s elation lasted all of eight minutes before \u200cdefender Clare Hunt failed to deal with a high-bouncing ball behind the lines, allowing Zhang to swoop.<\/p>\n
\n\tGoalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold charged out and made contact with the China midfielder who went down in the box and calmly slotted the spot kick herself.<\/p>\n
\n\tKerr had the final say after the break, though, producing a sublime finish at the end of another Matildas counter-attack.<\/p>\n
\n\tSliding the ball to Foord on the left, Kerr continued her run forward, took the ball back and rounded China\u2019s keeper Peng Shimeng before tucking in a low left-foot shot from a tight angle near the byline.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe goal sent the hosts to Sydney for Saturday\u2019s final while giving Emily van Egmond another reason to celebrate after she became Australia\u2019s most capped player with her 170th appearance, surpassing Clare Polkinghorne.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThese are the nights you\u2019ve always dreamed of. This is the reason why we play,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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