Sam Kerr fires Australia into Asian Cup final

Australia 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's Asian Cup final.

The Matildas will hunt a second trophy in the continental tournament and first since 2010 against Japan or South Korea, who play in the second semi-final in Sydney on Wednesday.

Scoring 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 levelled the match with a Zhang Linyan penalty in the 26th minute following an early strike by Caitlin Foord, who also had a hand in Kerr's winner.

"I can't really gather my emotions right now," said Kerr.

"I know we came in as one of the favourites but we've taken the long road to be here and it just feels so good to be here now in the final.

"These girls are like family to me so it would be a dream come true (to win the final)."

Though Kerr was typically clinical, Australia coach Joe Montemurro would have been frustrated early when Mary Fowler blazed a volley over the bar in the fifth minute, having been well served by a Kaitlyn Torpey cross.

Fowler redeemed herself quickly, though, combining with Ellie Carpenter to set up Foord's goal after 17 minutes with a neat move down the right wing.

Taking the ball from Carpenter near the six-yard box, Fowler's cut-back pass found Foord who fired a low shot home, belated reward for the Arsenal forward after a quiet tournament.

Australia's elation lasted all of eight minutes before defender Clare Hunt failed to deal with a high-bouncing ball behind the lines, allowing Zhang to swoop.

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold charged out and made contact with the China midfielder who went down in the box and calmly slotted the spot-kick herself.

Kerr had the final say after the break, though, producing a sublime finish at the end of another Matildas counter-attack.

Sliding the ball to Foord on the left, Kerr continued her run forward, took the ball back and rounded China's keeper Peng Shimeng before tucking in a low left-foot shot from a tight angle near the byline.

The goal sent the hosts to Sydney for Saturday's final while giving Emily van Egmond another reason to celebrate after she became Australia's most capped player with her 170th appearance, surpassing Clare Polkinghorne.

"These are the nights you've always dreamed of. This is the reason why we play," she said.

"I think we really showed some character. It wasn't the prettiest game but we got the job done."

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Ed Osmond)