Matildas end on a high and take their leave
Caitlin Foord reminded Australia why her name is always a close second after Sam Kerr’s when it comes to the country’s top players. She marked her 150th cap with a classy goal and her trademark unrelenting effort to seal the Matildas’ 3-1 win over Mexico in the second international friendly in Sydney.
The energy was so high in the first 10 minutes that it was hard to believe this tempo of football could be sustained for long. Just as soon as Kerr fired off a shot at one end, Diana Ordoñez would be threatening at the other. Rinse and repeat for 22 minutes until Alanna Kennedy got the breakthrough, positioning herself perfectly in the six-yard box to collect the ball, turn on her heels and stab it past the goalkeeper. But it didn’t slow the tempo. Mexico responded instantly, making the most of a wayward clearance and finding Ordoñez waiting in front of an open goal. The Matildas’ second followed in quick succession, Kerr hitting the post and the deflection bouncing in off the goalkeepers back.
Foord probed and prodded but couldn’t get her timing right in the final third. It took a storming run out of defence from Torpey to make it happen. The through ball met Foord a few metres outside the area and she charged inside despite the defender pulling her shirt back. Shaking her off, Foord slotted the ball to the right of the goalkeeper and in doing so recorded her 41st goal in the green and gold.
The final touches were better. The chances were made and shots taken, but still not enough on target. Wheeler is a gem, Torpey is a force, Carpenter is relentless. The greatest dilemma facing Montemurro now is how to settle the defence. While Heatley has had many an impressive moment in her Matildas career, the consistency isn’t there. Even Catley doesn’t look as comfortable as she has in the past – in back-four iterations involving Clare Hunt and Kennedy in the centre. The focus is often on the Matildas attacking issues, perhaps more attention needs to be paid to the setup at the other end.
That’s the last we will see of the Matildas until the next international window at the end of September. It’s a long break, one which the players desperately need given their ridiculously busy schedules for club and country. Luckily there is a fair amount of football on at the moment for them to enjoy in their time off. Did you know that there’s a boy Matildas?
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I’ll get to the Matildas in a moment. The other big takeaway for me from tonight is just how skilled and exciting this Mexican team is. This time from the first whistle, Ordoñez again found and exploited the weaknesses in the Matildas defence. Their aggressively high press caused all sorts of trouble for the hosts. That pressure undoubtedly contributed to the huge number of defensive errors from the hosts. Mexico have not qualified for the World Cup since 2015. It would be fantastic to see them back in 2027.
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Carpenter, who notched up her 100th appearance in green and gold in the first game, says she is sorry for blocking Kennedy’s shot in the second half. Kennedy (and Kerr for that matter) could not keep a straight face as Carpenter writhed in pain on the grass.
She is pleased with the win, though.
We had a lot to work on from the last game. Obviously had to work out how to beat their press … I think we dealt with that tonight most of the time, still some shaky moments there but that’s what friendlies are for.
[Montemurro] said these are the situations we are going to be put in … so we need to deal with it. Teams are going to pressure us if we want to play the way we want to play which is with the ball.
Just quicker touches, quicker ball movement. I think there’s a lot to improve on, but that’s a good base to improve on.
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Joe Montemurro says “a bit more patience” was the key tonight, after taking a number of lessons from game one.
Our biggest problem was we were too slow getting into the attacking third the other night. We worked on getting forward a little bit quicker. I think with Hayley there, staying higher was a bit easier.
These are exactly the games we need, this intensity, this pressure, this 90 minutes of go, go, go. We have to be better with the ball, we were caught a couple of times off the ball and were nearly made to pay for it.
We still need to clean things up.
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Ah yeah, I’d say that would have been a penalty if not for the goal.
The milestone player has spoken to Paramount+ after the match, saying how special it is to represent Australia on 150 occasions. “But I’m just happy we won the game,” Foord says.
Did she know that goal was coming?
I just picked the far corner, I think it could have been a pen as well, but I stayed on my feet and put it in the far corner.
We’ve always been that team to bounce back. But we want to be that team that dominates and wins every game. That’s something we’ve got to build on now and work on heading into the World Cup.
Full time (Australia 3-1 Mexico)
The Matildas drag one back to draw the friendly series. An energetic and entertaining match in Sydney for Foord’s 150th cap.
90 + 4 mins: Mexico regain possession in midfield and the ball lands nicely at the feet of Corral on the edge of the area. The pressure from Rule is too much and she forces a corner. Sanchez’s corner finds its target on the top of the six-yard box but her header goes out past the far post.
90 + 1 mins: The substitutes for both teams are eager to attack. Mexico’s free kick on the left finds a head in the box but flies wide of the far post.
88 mins: The Matildas are winding down the clock, satisfied with the 3-1 scoreline. Torpey is coming off and Jamilla Rankin is going to have a run.
87 mins: A double change. Fowler is coming off for Remy Siemsen, and Alana Murphy takes Kennedy’s place. These are Murphy’s first minutes in nearly a year. It is hard but possible to make an impact this late in the game. I feel that’s a bit much to ask of her.
85 mins: The Matildas have slowed down. McKenna hunts for an option in midfield while her teammates stay static around her. Given the intensity earlier it had to die down eventually. They swap possession a few times before McKenna is fouled.
83 mins: There’s a crowd of 18,441 in Parramatta tonight. Catley sends a corner from the left to Rule just outside the area who volleys towards goal where a wall of players blocks it.
81 mins: Foord is still working hard to break through the Mexico line although may be tiring now. Carpenter likewise still looking like the world is in fast-forward whenever she has the ball. McNamara crosses to Foord at the back post, she can’t work the angle and the Matildas bring the ball back out of the area to start again.
78 mins: Ordoñez twists and turns but Rule isn’t phased, closing down every angle. That’s why she is a so important for her club Brighton. And the Mexican goal-scorer takes her leave.
76 mins: As the players found their places after the goal some changes have been made. Holly McNamara and Leticia McKenna are on, Kerr and Raso are off. Mexico have also made three changes.
GOAL! Australia 3-1 Mexico (Foord 71')
Foord has her goal! And from an excellent bit of play no less. Torpey collects the ball in defence and makes a powerful run up the centre before setting up Foord. She floats into the box, holds the ball up to lose the defender and unleashes to the right of the goalkeeper. Not to mention she clearly had her shirt pulled most of that time.
70 mins: Mexico are beginning to look more dangerous again. The attacks are coming thick and fast leaving the Matildas making desperate moves at the back.
68 mins: The substitutions are coming. But first, Saldivar bodies Torpey off the ball and works her way into the corner as Wheeler comes in to take back control.
66 mins: Carpenter gets on the end of a long ball from Kennedy but she is almost too fast and crosses the ball straight to the goalkeeper with no Matildas pressure in sight. Mexico work it across their back three, Kerr floating dangerously. Rodriguez sends a long ball over the midfield to Ordoñez who has a chance to break free. Rule makes the professional foul, cops the yellow and free kick. The resulting delivery is pinpoint to the six-yard box. They scrap to clear it and the stadium roars as Raso breaks free in midfield.
62 mins: Foord passes off to Torpey at the halfway line then sprints forward to meet Torpey’s ball. She works into the area and crosses back to … no one.
60 mins: The Matildas are left scrambling again after a bad back-pass. Arnold is completely out of position and Catley is left to clear for a corner. The ball comes back out to Mexico’s defenders lurking in midfield and Rule gives away a free kick. Arnold comfortably holds on to the shot.
58 mins: Mexico finally get a chance to attack. Caserez cross from the right to Ordoñez in the area but she times it wrong and Ordoñez has to turn back to collect it.
56 mins: Kerr has another chance from close range but the goalkeeper is on top of her. Well saved. Raso storms up the right, crossing the ball in front of Kerr as she runs into the area. The ball goes past everyone to Foord at the far post who can’t get on to it fast enough and her attempted cut-back hits the side netting.
54 mins: Now it’s Raso with charging towards the area, looking like she will go all the way before Kennedy gets in the way. Raso is smiling before the play is even stopped. Wheeler leads the reset from the back.
52 mins: Kerr is fouled on the right touchline. Catley sends the free kick to Fowler who dribbles across the field then shoots hard and high.
49 mins: Foord is getting a lot of attention as usual and Espinoza is shown a yellow card for bringing her down. Fowler unleashes Torpey with a brilliant pass. She offloads to Foord who takes the ball to touchline before cutting back into the centre. Kerr can’t get on to the end of it but Kennedy is there to slam it towards goal. She has a second go at the rebound, sending it high. Carpenter is left clutching her middle on the ground after copping the ball at close range.
Second half
47 mins: An expected change for the Matildas at the break. Heatley has come off and Charlize Rule is on in her place. Rule is in the thick of it early but can’t keep up with the charging Saldivar who crosses to Caserez tussling with Torpey at the top of the box. Caserez hits the turf but no free kick is given.
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The numbers are similar to Saturday’s. Matildas have had 70% possession and 13 shots on goal to Mexico’s seven. However, both have had just three shots on target.
The Matildas are certainly improved in front of goal, more accurate and taking their chances. But the turnovers in defence and errors when playing out from the back are a serious concern. That performance would be an issue any day but against this Mexico side, they just don’t have that wriggle room. Their forwards are pouncing on every little slip-up, leading to genuine chances that the Matildas should never have enabled.
Half-time (Australia 2-1 Mexico)
What a half. No need for stoppage time, no one has had a moment to catch their breath in that half.
44 mins: Another drive from Carpenter to meet Raso upfield. The winger quickly sends a lovely cross in to the centre of the area but Kerr can’t capitalise on the delivery.
42 mins: Wheeler is showing class all across the pitch. I question her omission in favour of Van Egmond last game … (and every game). Heatley, meanwhile, is determined to keep Arnold’s heart rate up. The back four are not gelling.
40 mins: Delgado receives the ball as she lurks at the top of the area. She has enough time to take a shot but it has no power and Arnold scoops it up easily. Fowler and Kerr pass between them at the other end before the ball falls to Kennedy who slams it high of the crossbar.
GOAL! Australia 2-1 Mexico (OG 36')
Carpenter storms up the right meeting the ball as it’s cleared from the area. She send a looping cross in early to Kerr’s feet in the middle of the box. She fires at close range into the post, but the ricocheting ball hits the Mexico goalkeeper and crosses the line!
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35 mins: Foord is fouled on the left touchline. The free kick is sent in by Catley in a rush and comes straight back out. They try going forward through Raso but get stuck.
33 mins: Heatley is clearly ratted. Arnold rolls her the ball and she sends it forward meekly resulting in Mexico taking possession again, applying the quick press and another chance on goal flies wide of the upright.
31 mins: Kennedy has the ball stolen from her by Delgado in midfield. She takes a step and curls the ball just over the top corner. The Matildas look panicked in defence. Before that Arnold was forced to run off her line to meet a bad back-pass. This is going to cost them again.
29 mins: Australia can’t make anything of two corners. They are going end to end at the moment.
GOAL! Australia 1-1 Mexico (Ordoñez 26')
The Matildas play silly buggers at the back AGAIN and it finally comes back to bite them. A weak clearance out of the area is jumped on by Mexico. Heatley commits with a sliding tackle and the Mexican has space and time for a low cross into the box where Ordoñez has no trouble tapping into the open goal.
24 mins: Chances abound! Kerr is on the attack from the restart, ending her run lying flat on the turf with her hands out, unable to control at the final moment. Torpey charges up the left, going all the way into the area before getting off her shot. It’s saved and the Matildas can’t get on to the deflection.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Mexico (Kennedy 22')
She’s back! A short corner from Catley to Fowler, she turns to find Wheeler open at the top of the box. Her ball in takes a small deflection before Kerr can get a head on it, hitting the ground right in front of goal where Kennedy spins and pokes it in.
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20 mins: Delgado makes a break to the edge of the area before being held up. Mexico hold on to possession and work across the pitch, making the Matildas work hard to get it back.
18 mins: A nice play just outside the area, Wheeler has a one-two with Kerr before passing off to Fowler in space centrally. She switches the ball from right foot to left and shoots low and hard. It’s deflected off a defender and the Matildas regroup. “Mexico” chants ring around the ground.
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16 mins: Raso and Fowler are trying to work off each other on the right but the passing isn’t clinical enough.
14 mins: Make that three. A terrible pass from Heatley in Arnold’s general direction as a Mexico player closed down resulting in a one-on-one with the keeper although it comes to nothing. Kennedy sets up Raso with a long pass across the pitch, but in the midst of a tackle she pulls a shirt and gets pulled up.
12 mins: Caserez pounces on some more defensive wobbles as Catley makes a poor pass to Heatley. Arnold comes out of goal to sort it out. That’s two serious errors in the backline so far. The Mexico press may be their undoing again.
10 mins: The Matildas are not giving Mexico an inch at the moment. But it’s only been 10 minutes. Kerr shouts for handball just outside the penalty area, and the replay justifies her anguish, the referee is not interested though.
8 mins: A chance for Ordoñez as Heatley gifts her a ball on the edge of the area. Her shot is on target but straight into Arnold’s waiting gloves. The Matildas are instantly on the counterattack, looking dangerous. The ball ends with Foord to the right of goal but she can’t steady the shot and it goes wide of the post.
6 mins: The Matildas are applying pressure early, a clear sign of intent after the first defeat. Fowler, Carpenter and Foord in particular are firing. The energy is high. They probe forward on the right before coming back and switching to the left. Catley is under pressure and Mexico get the throw.
4 mins: Foord swerves through the midfield with the ball at her feed, finding Carpenter on the right. Her cross is cleared easily with no Matildas running into the six-yard box. Another opportunity comes back in and Kerr is waiting. Her header goes wide.
2 mins: A poor clearance from Mexico ends up in Foord’s lap in midfield who finds Kerr pushing into the last line of defence. Kerr can’t get it under control. They go again with some sharp passing at the corner of the area but Torpey isn’t able to penetrate.
Kick-off
Peeeeeeeeeep! Here we go for game two of this friendly series.
Oh, false start …. There was some confusion over whose kick-off it was. Mexico get things under way.
After tonight we won’t see the Matildas in action again for another four months … and then the 2027 World Cup won’t be far away at all!
Time for the national anthems. There appears to be a strong Mexican contingent in the crowd in Parramatta.
The warmups have wrapped up.
In case you have arrived here while searching for the broadcast … this Matildas match is not on free-to-air TV unfortunately. So, you’ll just have to stick around here (or pay to stream on Paramount+)
Mexico XI
El Tri Femenil lineup: Esthefanny Barreras (gk), Rebecca Bernal (capt), Reyna Reyes, Alexia Delgado, Greta Espinoza, Jasmine Caserez, Karla Nieto, Angelique Saldivar, Nicolette Hernández, Diana Ordóñez, Kimberly Rodríguez.
Mexico have made three changes. The goal-scorer has been rewarded with a start.
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Yes, that is Foord who will be wearing the captain’s armband tonight. This will be her 150th Matildas cap, making her just the sixth player to reach the milestone.
But she isn’t letting the occasion get in the way of the ultimate goal – silverware for this golden generation.
It’s always stayed the same; we want to do something special, win something. We’ve come close a few times and that goal’s still there.
Australia XI
Matildas starting lineup: Mackenzie Arnold; Ellie Carpenter, Winnonah Heatley, Clare Wheeler, Steph Catley, Kaitlyn Torpey; Clare Wheeler, Alana Kennedy, Mary Fowler; Hayley Raso, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord (capt).
Wheeler and Raso are in. Emily van Egmond and Amy Sayer are on the bench.
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Speaking to the media on Monday, Montemurro was happy to put the loss down to much-needed experience playing against different styles before the World Cup.
“They went more direct and long and we struggled to go with it,” he said.
I put it all in context because this is what these games are all about. Different styles, different ideas. In my whole career I’ve only seen two teams that lift their fullbacks so high … I haven’t seen a team do that for a long, long time. We had to study it, analyse it and not get emotional about it.
My colleague Martin Pegan was on deck for the first game, writing that the Matildas paid the price for wasted chances.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Matildas’ second international friendly against Mexico.
Saturday’s result seemed like a shock to the system for the home side, as they were caught with their guard down in the final minutes. Ordóñez’s goal was just the second time Mexico have scored against Australia in 12 matches.
That the Matildas reached stoppage time at nil-all despite dominating possession speaks to their ongoing problems converting changes in the final third. Which Caitlin Foord acknowledged after the game.
In the front third we just need to get some more shots, and the final pass needs to be better.
With the 2027 World Cup glowing temptingly on the horizon, I will be interested to see whether Joe Montemurro sticks to a similar starting XI with the aim to build on game one or start afresh and give some of those fringe players decent game time.
We are about to find out! Kick-off at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta is half-an-hour away.
Do send through any thoughts or questions to jo.khan@theguardian.com.
Let’s go!
