Finals are around the corner as the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships enters the pointy end of competition.
Each team had the chance to make their mark in the group stage with the top teams from each group advancing to the finals, while the remainder continue to contest playoff matches for the rest of the championships.
More on the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships
CLICK HERE to view live tables, results and fixtures
CLICK HERE to view the official 2025 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships Tournament program
CLICK HERE to watch* the 2025 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships thanks to Kommunity TV (*subscription required)
Quarter Finals confirmed
The knockout stage is set, with the quarter-final matchups now confirmed in both age groups at the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships.
The action kicks off in the Under 15 Age Group with NSW Sky taking on Malaysia in the opening quarter-final, followed by a clash between Victoria Blue and NSW Navy.
It's a Queensland derby in the third quarter-final, with Queensland Maroon going head-to-head with Queensland White, before the final fixture sees Western Australia face off against Northern NSW.
The Under 16s begin with NSW Sky meeting Queensland White, followed by a showdown between Capital Football and the Charles Perkins XI. Queensland Maroon will then take on Victoria White, before the last semi-final spot is decided when Victoria Blue meets Northern NSW.
From Kuala Lumpur to Glenwood
They arrived with just four days of preparation, a young squad still finding its feet and not many knew what to expect.
Now four games into the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships, Malaysia have shown they're not just here to make up the numbers.
One win, one draw, and two narrow defeats tell part of the story but the rest is written in effort, attitude, and a team learning quickly on the go.
"This is only the second time this team has been together," said head coach Leila Chua Pak Ling.
"Most of them have only been playing for two years, and our Under 15 league in Malaysia only started recently so we're proud of what they've done here."
It's been a baptism of fire in Sydney's west - the pace is quicker, the games more physical, Malaysia have had to adapt to new conditions, new opponents, and a game every day.
"In Malaysia, we're not used to this many matches in a row," Chua explained.
"But the girls are adjusting. We rotate the squad to keep them fresh, and each day they're learning more."
Despite their challenges, Malaysia gave a good account of themselves against Queensland with a 1-0 loss that could have gone either way and have impressed with their commitment and structure.
"The first match was tough because of the physicality, but I keep telling them size doesn't matter. We're quick, we've got good technique so just be brave and compete," said Chua.
"This is different to our league back home. Everything here is faster, stronger. But that's why we're here, to give them experience, to grow, to understand what it takes.
"This isn't just about results. It's about giving every player an opportunity and they're making the most of it."
Sapphire Cup Final Shines Spotlight on the Pathway
As play wraps up at the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships, players will get a front-row seat to finals football, with the Football NSW Sapphire Cup Final kicking off at Valentine Sports Park.
APIA Leichhardt FC will face Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC in the showpiece decider of the state's premier women's knockout cup competition in a match that embodies what lies ahead for many of the young stars watching on.
Among those taking the field is APIA's Zoe Panagopoulos, who played the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships (previously named National Youth Championships) just last year.
For Mt Druitt, the connection runs even deeper. Teammates Holly Williams and Clare Holder have come full circle - from playing together in the 2018 iteration of the Championships for the NSW Under 15 Metropolitan Girls - White, to now lining up side-by-side in a senior Cup Final.
