Latest news with #Melburnian
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Matildas to face South Korea in Asian Cup group stage
The Matildas have been pitted against the team that ended their last Women's Asian Cup campaign, facing South Korea in the group stage of the 2026 tournament. After the draw made on Tuesday night at Sydney's Town Hall, Australia will first face the Philippines before playing Iran. Joe Montemurro's team will host the opener against the Philippines, coached by Melburnian Mark Torcaso, at Perth's Optus Stadium on March 1. The Matildas will then take on Iran at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on March 5, before facing South Korea at Sydney's Accor Stadium on March 8. Montemurro's side at least avoid a group stage meeting with defending champions China, who were drawn in Group B. China is also coached by an Australian in Ante Milicic. World No.7 Japan, the highest-ranked team in the tournament, were drawn in Group C with Vietnam, India and Taiwan. "In any tournament, the expectations were what they were," Montemurro said. "I couldn't predict that I wanted this team or that team. "Now it's a little bit clearer, the style of teams we're playing, and it's a little bit clearer on how we approach the build-up into it." Looking to repeat their 2010 trophy run, the Matildas - ranked world No.15 - have just two international windows to find their feet under Montemurro before the Asian Cup. Australia netted two wins, a draw and a loss against Slovenia and Panama in their first batch of friendlies under Montemurro. The Matildas were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia, and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against them. With a handful of players departing halfway through the window, Australia then slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama before pulling off a 3-2 comeback win in the second match. Australia did not play China in the last Asian Cup in India, but suffered a shock 1-0 quarter-final loss to South Korea. The Matildas have since defeated South Korea, claiming a clean sweep of their two-game friendly series in May without conceding a goal. Still, Montemurro expects the heartache of their 2022 defeat still lingers for the players. "Look, I think they've got that at the back of their mind," Montemurro said. "They know what they need to do in terms of fixing what was not a positive tournament in India. "We've got the advantage of being at home. We've got the crowd behind us." The Matildas have already met the Philippines in Perth, thrashing Torcaso's side 8-0 in October, 2023. "That was probably one of the third or fourth games of us being in charge as a staff," Torcaso said. "We got thrown straight into it and we got Australia in front of 60,000 at Optus, so we've got a lot to come back to and fix from that last game. "We've definitely improved since then, so for us, it will be just going there and making sure we focus on us and do the best that we can and represent our country with pride." Australia are one of 12 teams split across three groups to have qualified for next year's tournament, which will run until the final at Accor Stadium on March 21. The top two teams in each of the groups, joined by the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stages. DRAW FOR THE 2026 WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP: Group A - Australia, South Korea, Iran, Philippines Group B - North Korea, China, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan Group C - Japan, Vietnam, India, Taiwan The Matildas have been pitted against the team that ended their last Women's Asian Cup campaign, facing South Korea in the group stage of the 2026 tournament. After the draw made on Tuesday night at Sydney's Town Hall, Australia will first face the Philippines before playing Iran. Joe Montemurro's team will host the opener against the Philippines, coached by Melburnian Mark Torcaso, at Perth's Optus Stadium on March 1. The Matildas will then take on Iran at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on March 5, before facing South Korea at Sydney's Accor Stadium on March 8. Montemurro's side at least avoid a group stage meeting with defending champions China, who were drawn in Group B. China is also coached by an Australian in Ante Milicic. World No.7 Japan, the highest-ranked team in the tournament, were drawn in Group C with Vietnam, India and Taiwan. "In any tournament, the expectations were what they were," Montemurro said. "I couldn't predict that I wanted this team or that team. "Now it's a little bit clearer, the style of teams we're playing, and it's a little bit clearer on how we approach the build-up into it." Looking to repeat their 2010 trophy run, the Matildas - ranked world No.15 - have just two international windows to find their feet under Montemurro before the Asian Cup. Australia netted two wins, a draw and a loss against Slovenia and Panama in their first batch of friendlies under Montemurro. The Matildas were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia, and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against them. With a handful of players departing halfway through the window, Australia then slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama before pulling off a 3-2 comeback win in the second match. Australia did not play China in the last Asian Cup in India, but suffered a shock 1-0 quarter-final loss to South Korea. The Matildas have since defeated South Korea, claiming a clean sweep of their two-game friendly series in May without conceding a goal. Still, Montemurro expects the heartache of their 2022 defeat still lingers for the players. "Look, I think they've got that at the back of their mind," Montemurro said. "They know what they need to do in terms of fixing what was not a positive tournament in India. "We've got the advantage of being at home. We've got the crowd behind us." The Matildas have already met the Philippines in Perth, thrashing Torcaso's side 8-0 in October, 2023. "That was probably one of the third or fourth games of us being in charge as a staff," Torcaso said. "We got thrown straight into it and we got Australia in front of 60,000 at Optus, so we've got a lot to come back to and fix from that last game. "We've definitely improved since then, so for us, it will be just going there and making sure we focus on us and do the best that we can and represent our country with pride." Australia are one of 12 teams split across three groups to have qualified for next year's tournament, which will run until the final at Accor Stadium on March 21. The top two teams in each of the groups, joined by the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stages. DRAW FOR THE 2026 WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP: Group A - Australia, South Korea, Iran, Philippines Group B - North Korea, China, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan Group C - Japan, Vietnam, India, Taiwan The Matildas have been pitted against the team that ended their last Women's Asian Cup campaign, facing South Korea in the group stage of the 2026 tournament. After the draw made on Tuesday night at Sydney's Town Hall, Australia will first face the Philippines before playing Iran. Joe Montemurro's team will host the opener against the Philippines, coached by Melburnian Mark Torcaso, at Perth's Optus Stadium on March 1. The Matildas will then take on Iran at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on March 5, before facing South Korea at Sydney's Accor Stadium on March 8. Montemurro's side at least avoid a group stage meeting with defending champions China, who were drawn in Group B. China is also coached by an Australian in Ante Milicic. World No.7 Japan, the highest-ranked team in the tournament, were drawn in Group C with Vietnam, India and Taiwan. "In any tournament, the expectations were what they were," Montemurro said. "I couldn't predict that I wanted this team or that team. "Now it's a little bit clearer, the style of teams we're playing, and it's a little bit clearer on how we approach the build-up into it." Looking to repeat their 2010 trophy run, the Matildas - ranked world No.15 - have just two international windows to find their feet under Montemurro before the Asian Cup. Australia netted two wins, a draw and a loss against Slovenia and Panama in their first batch of friendlies under Montemurro. The Matildas were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia, and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against them. With a handful of players departing halfway through the window, Australia then slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama before pulling off a 3-2 comeback win in the second match. Australia did not play China in the last Asian Cup in India, but suffered a shock 1-0 quarter-final loss to South Korea. The Matildas have since defeated South Korea, claiming a clean sweep of their two-game friendly series in May without conceding a goal. Still, Montemurro expects the heartache of their 2022 defeat still lingers for the players. "Look, I think they've got that at the back of their mind," Montemurro said. "They know what they need to do in terms of fixing what was not a positive tournament in India. "We've got the advantage of being at home. We've got the crowd behind us." The Matildas have already met the Philippines in Perth, thrashing Torcaso's side 8-0 in October, 2023. "That was probably one of the third or fourth games of us being in charge as a staff," Torcaso said. "We got thrown straight into it and we got Australia in front of 60,000 at Optus, so we've got a lot to come back to and fix from that last game. "We've definitely improved since then, so for us, it will be just going there and making sure we focus on us and do the best that we can and represent our country with pride." Australia are one of 12 teams split across three groups to have qualified for next year's tournament, which will run until the final at Accor Stadium on March 21. The top two teams in each of the groups, joined by the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stages. DRAW FOR THE 2026 WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP: Group A - Australia, South Korea, Iran, Philippines Group B - North Korea, China, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan Group C - Japan, Vietnam, India, Taiwan
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Australia's Formula One ace Oscar Piastri takes pole at Belgian Grand Prix with fastest lap in history
Australia's Formula One leader Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Saturday sprint by nearly half a second at the Belgian Grand Prix while McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris qualified third. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen will join Piastri on the front row for the first race since Christian Horner was dismissed as team boss and replaced with Laurent Mekies. Piastri lapped the Spa-Francorchamps circuit with a best time of one minute 40.510 seconds, 0.477 seconds quicker than Verstappen and 0.618 clear of Norris. He was at risk of being eliminated after straying off track in the second part of the session but bounced back to pip Verstappen, who split the two dominant McLarens by relegating Norris to third, .618 off the pace. The flying lap set a new record, too, seven tenths faster than Lewis Hamilton's record from 2020. 'The car's been mega all day,' said Piastri, who claimed his first sprint pole of the campaign. 'This is a track I love, it's my favourite one of the year and maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths (of a second).' The Melburnian, who also set the pace in earlier practice, is eight points clear at the top after 12 of 24 rounds. 'It was a good lap. A little scare in SQ2 with the lap deletion. But thanks to the team, the car has been great and this is a track I love. Maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths,' he said. 'The car has been in a good window since lap one and it is a track I always enjoy coming to. 'It is nice to get a result today. 'The Red Bulls were very quick in a straight line in practice. That makes life difficult in terms of it being the worst track to have pole position.' There was a lot of love for Piastri on social media following his electrifying effort, with F1 fans stunned by his performance. 'OH. MY. WORD. Oscar Piastri's sprint pole position laptime is OVER SEVEN TENTHS FASTER than the previous lap record … set by Lewis Hamilton in the MERCEDES W11,' Formula 1 God said on X (formerly Twitter). And the F1 Republic said: 'An unstoppable lap from the Aussie secured Sprint Pole ahead of Verstappen and Norris.' F1 presenter Matt Gallagher said: 'Oscar Piastri that is a PHENOMENAL lap ... nearly half a second clear!!!' While a fan said: 'That Piastri lap…. standing up and applauding ... that's my driver.' Ferrari's Charles Leclerc starts fourth but teammate Lewis Hamilton will line up 18th after a difficult afternoon for the seven-times world champion, whose most recent win came at the same circuit last year with Mercedes. The Briton spun on his last flying lap while on course to go through, with the suspicion falling on a failure of the car's rear axle. George Russell, who finished first last year for Mercedes but was then disqualified for an underweight car, also struggled and qualified 13th. McLaren team chief Andrea Stella told Sky Sports: 'That was a pretty amazing lap by Oscar, he capitalised on everything available in the car. 'An almost perfect session from Oscar, except for the lap deletion in SQ2 which gave us a bit of a moment on the pit wall!'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Piastri secures sprint race pole at Belgium Grand Prix
Australia's Formula One leader Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Saturday sprint by nearly half a second at the Belgian Grand Prix while McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris qualified third. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen will join Piastri on the front row for the first race since Christian Horner was dismissed as team boss and replaced with Laurent Mekies. Piastri lapped the Spa-Francorchamps circuit with a best time of one minute 40.510 seconds, 0.477 seconds quicker than Verstappen and 0.618 clear of Norris. He was at risk of being eliminated after straying off track in the second part of the session but bounced back to pip Verstappen, who split the two dominant McLarens by relegating Norris to third, .618 off the pace. "The car's been mega all day," said Piastri, who claimed his first sprint pole of the campaign. "This is a track I love, it's my favourite one of the year and maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths (of a second)." The Melburnian, who also set the pace in earlier practice, is eight points clear at the top after 12 of 24 rounds. "It was a good lap. A little scare in SQ2 with the lap deletion. But thanks to the team, the car has been great and this is a track I love. Maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths. "The car has been in a good window since lap one and it is a track I always enjoy coming to. "It is nice to get a result today. "The Red Bulls were very quick in a straight line in practice. That makes life difficult in terms of it being the worst track to have pole position." Ferrari's Charles Leclerc starts fourth but teammate Lewis Hamilton will line up 18th after a difficult afternoon for the seven-times world champion, whose most recent win came at the same circuit last year with Mercedes. The Briton spun on his last flying lap while on course to go through, with the suspicion falling on a failure of the car's rear axle. George Russell, who finished first last year for Mercedes but was then disqualified for an underweight car, also struggled and qualified 13th. McLaren team chief Andrea Stella told Sky Sports: "That was a pretty amazing lap by Oscar, he capitalised on everything available in the car. "An almost perfect session from Oscar, except for the lap deletion in SQ2 which gave us a bit of a moment on the pit wall!"
West Australian
4 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Piastri secures sprint race pole at Belgium Grand Prix
Australia's Formula One leader Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Saturday sprint by nearly half a second at the Belgian Grand Prix while McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris qualified third. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen will join Piastri on the front row for the first race since Christian Horner was dismissed as team boss and replaced with Laurent Mekies. Piastri lapped the Spa-Francorchamps circuit with a best time of one minute 40.510 seconds, 0.477 seconds quicker than Verstappen and 0.618 clear of Norris. He was at risk of being eliminated after straying off track in the second part of the session but bounced back to pip Verstappen, who split the two dominant McLarens by relegating Norris to third, .618 off the pace. "The car's been mega all day," said Piastri, who claimed his first sprint pole of the campaign. "This is a track I love, it's my favourite one of the year and maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths (of a second)." The Melburnian, who also set the pace in earlier practice, is eight points clear at the top after 12 of 24 rounds. "It was a good lap. A little scare in SQ2 with the lap deletion. But thanks to the team, the car has been great and this is a track I love. Maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths. "The car has been in a good window since lap one and it is a track I always enjoy coming to. "It is nice to get a result today. "The Red Bulls were very quick in a straight line in practice. That makes life difficult in terms of it being the worst track to have pole position." Ferrari's Charles Leclerc starts fourth but teammate Lewis Hamilton will line up 18th after a difficult afternoon for the seven-times world champion, whose most recent win came at the same circuit last year with Mercedes. The Briton spun on his last flying lap while on course to go through, with the suspicion falling on a failure of the car's rear axle. George Russell, who finished first last year for Mercedes but was then disqualified for an underweight car, also struggled and qualified 13th. McLaren team chief Andrea Stella told Sky Sports: "That was a pretty amazing lap by Oscar, he capitalised on everything available in the car. "An almost perfect session from Oscar, except for the lap deletion in SQ2 which gave us a bit of a moment on the pit wall!"
West Australian
5 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Viral TikTok: Sydney parking sign causes mass confusion as Australian drivers struggle to make sense of it
An Aussie driver's struggle to decode a multilayered parking sign has once again cast a spotlight on Australia's notoriously over-complicated parking rules, and the social media reaction suggests the confusion isn't just local. Marie Phitidis, who goes by Mars online, was walking along Oxford Street in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Paddington when she noticed a woman pausing — then pacing — beside a towering parking sign. For over 10 minutes, the driver tried to make sense of its many clauses, restrictions, and time windows. Ms Phitidis filmed the incident and posted it to TikTok under her handle @phoodietiktok, where it quickly drew hundreds of comments from baffled Aussies and confused international viewers. The sign in question, located on one of Sydney's busiest thoroughfares, reads like a bureaucratic Rubik's cube. From 8am to 10.30am, the space is a loading zone. Then it becomes two-hour paid parking until 4pm, at which point it transforms into a bus lane until 7pm, but only on weekdays. From 7pm to 9pm (again, only Monday to Friday), the two-hour paid parking returns. On Saturdays and Sundays, it's also two-hour paid parking from 10.30am until 9pm, but of course, you can't forget the loading zone restrictions. Ms Phitidis cheekily captioned the video: 'She was here for 78 minutes trying to make sense of Sydney's INSANE parking sign.' Reactions online were split. Some users insisted 'people shouldn't be driving if they can't read that,' while others saw the sign as a trap. 'By the time you park there and decipher the sign, you'd probably have a ticket already,' one person wrote. 'Yeah absolutely not, I'm parking somewhere else. All I'm seeing is that you're gonna cop a fine,' another added. Others simply waved the white flag: 'I think I would drive off, too scary for me.' One commenter summed up the confusion perfectly: 'The problem is my brain is doing the thing where it's like I'm going cross-eyed & it's all merging together, twisting and turning, kinda unravelling and it feels like I'm trying to read scribble.' Still, some drivers came to the sign's defence. 'This is very easy to read, though and I'm not even from Sydney,' one argued. 'Just start from the top sign and work your way down. Takes about a minute to understand,' wrote another. A Melburnian chimed in with: 'Move aside.' Ms Phitidis said she was 'shocked by the number of people defending the signs,' rejecting the notion that it's 'super easy to read,' as one commenter claimed. 'I think parking signs should be able to be understood at a glance, not after several minutes,' Ms Phitidis told . 'Especially if you're driving and you don't want to hold up traffic and you need to reverse park. You should be able to glance at the ONE sign and understand it immediately.' 'I was also shocked by the number of commenters who were bothered enough to then type out full explanations of what each and every one of the signs was saying,' she added. 'I wrote back to a few people clarifying my position, which was 'of course I could read and understand the signs, I didn't need someone to explain them to me, my point is purely that it is overcomplicated and for what reason?'' She stressed the woman in the video was not the butt of the joke. 'People who are driving down busy Oxford Street, with loads of traffic behind them, who are going to stop traffic to park, need to be able to glance quickly and, within a few seconds, be able to decide if they can park there or not.' The confusion wasn't limited to Australians. International TikTok users also weighed in with varying levels of confidence and disbelief. 'I'm a Brit and I worked it out in 30 seconds, not that hard,' one bragged. 'Y'all, Australia is wild,' an American declared. When contacted, a spokesperson for Transport for NSW said the bus lane portion of the sign has been in place for more than 10 years and was 'implemented to improve services during the weekday afternoon peak time.' The other signs — Loading Zone, 2P Ticket, and No Parking — were installed by Woollahra Council. Sydney's tangled parking regulations have long been a point of frustration for residents. In late 2022, the city trialled Smart Signage in parts of the CBD, part of the NSW Government's $695 million Smart Technology Corridors Program. The digital signs were designed to 'improve kerbside customer information and reduce congestion in key traffic locations,' according to Transport for NSW. But for many Sydneysiders, the kerbside chaos continues.
