The Australian Matildas have braved one of their toughest ever encounters to beat DPR Korea on penalties and win the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

On their second attempt for Asia’s biggest football prize the Matildas defied a rain-soaked and humid Chengdu night and a rapidly deteriorating pitch to become the first Australian team to win the Asian Cup.

Matildas’ youngster Sam Kerr opened the scoring on 19 minutes when she beat the offside trap to guide the ball past the DPR Korea goalkeeper Hong Myong Hui.

The goal allowed Australia to increase their possession and with boosted confidence began to play the ball more and wrestle back control of the game from a DPR team that started the stronger.

With the game ebbing and flowing between the two teams attacking raids the Matildas’ Servet Uzunlar and Kim Carroll ensured the Australian’s would go to the break with the advantage with the pair a constant presence in the Matildas defence.

The second half began much the same as the first ended with both teams fighting for every ball and every inch on the sparse and gravelly surface.

In the 59th minute Heather Garriock did some dancing on the ball before cutting it back to Elise Kellond-Knight whose driven cross found the head of Polkinghorne but her powerful header was just off target.

Minutes later Kerr was free down the right but her ball into the box rose too high for Gill to get the header and create the two goal buffer Australia so desperately wanted.

Despite some excellent short passing from the DPR side, their final ball was consistently lacking.

Australia looked to be in a perilous position in the 70th minute when Yun Hyon Hi got clear of the Australian defense only for the impeccable Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri to stand  tall and make a fantastic save low to her left to keep the score at 1-nil.

Moments later and DPR Korea came at the Australian’s again with Ra Un Sim beating Kellond-Knight into the box with her shot crashing into the side netting.

However DPR Korea could not be stopped, and with their momentum building a curling ball in from the right found the head of Jo Jun Mi who placed her header into the far corner of Barbieri’s goal to level the scores.

With the match level at the end of full-time the game headed for penalties.

DPR Korea took first honours in the penalty shootout and struck with purpose.

Australia followed up with Shipard hitting the target levelling the scores again.

DPR Korea handed the Matildas their biggest chance when Yun Song Mi missed to the right leaving the match open which the Aussies grabbed with both hands, sinking the remainder of their attempts with Gill, Garriock and Ledbrook finishing with complete composure.

Kyah Simon was left with the honours of securing a historic victory and stepped up to slot the ball into the top right sending the Matildas team into wild celebrations.    

“I think this would be the best highlight of my career so far,” said AIS and Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.

“With this group of girls and the lead-up we had this is just a fantastic result.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of girls and what they have achieved in such a short time.”