CommBank Matildas forward Mary Fowler said that the team’s clean sweep of the two-match series against Korea Republic was a confidence booster ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ next year.
She was speaking after the 2-0 victory over Korea Republic in Newcastle on Monday evening, where she scored the first goal.
“It’s really promising for us,” she said.
“They’re a top team, and at the last Asian Cup, they actually knocked us out. It’s good confidence for us, especially on the back of the SheBelieves Cup. Getting some good results and being consistent in both those games was really important for us.
“We have to stay humble and take a lot of the learnings out of that game, because it still wasn't the performance that a lot of us know we can perform. But all in all, it was a good camp, and what we needed really.”
Her first-half goal gave the CommBank Matildas the lead just before half-time.
“I just saw Em [Emily van Egmond] on the ball, and I thought I'd make a run - and it was a really tight pass, so credit is needs to be given to Em for the pass she made,” she said, reacting to the vision of the goal.
“I think that [the pass] was actually harder than the finish. I didn't think it was going to make it through, and it did. I just took a touch and shot, and then all I remember is Holly [McNamara] jumping on me. I didn't even have a second to breathe! So that was really nice.”
Her ball into the middle was also essential to the second goal that gave Australia a buffer in the second half.
“I saw someone in the box. I didn't know it was Cait [Caitlin Foord], so then I just crossed it in there, and then I just stood and watched,” she laughed.
“I thought the first shot went in, and then it didn't… I was like, surely it will go in!”
She praised the record 28,019 Newcastle crowd who were there to witness the victory.
“The crowd was really good. I could hear them cheering us on and yelling my name, which was, was nice to hear,” she said.
While she admitted that there was still plenty for the team to work on going forward, the most important thing – the results – was secured.
“As soon as we got the second goal, everyone kind of was able to breathe a bit more,” she explained.
“In the first game, we only had that one goal, so the second half was quite tense. But after we got that second goal, I think it allowed us to play a bit more free-flowing.
“At the same time, we did also give them a lot of chances. So there's a lot of pros and a lot of cons as well, but at the end of the day, the result is what mattered tonight.”
Fowler will now return to Manchester City ahead of a massive end to the season, before turning attention to the CommBank Matildas next games in late May and early June.
COMMBANK MATILDAS | MAY/JUNE 2025 | MATCH SCHEDULE
CommBank Matildas v Argentina
Date: Friday, 30 May 2025
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEST
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
TV Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
CommBank Matildas v Argentina
Date: Monday, 2 June 2025
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
