Source : the age
That was eminently more pleasurable to watch for me, and I hope it was for you too. Check out Frances Howe’s match report, which has just landed at the top of this blog, and look out for her coverage tomorrow as the Matildas depart until the next camp in four months(!)
The Matildas have overcome Mexico in Sydney, where Caitlin Foord iced a frenzied end-to-end match with a goal to mark her 150th cap.
Tuesday night’s 3-1 win was a spectacle of stark contrast to Saturday’s first friendly against the world No.28 nation, leaving that incoherent stoppage-time 1-0 loss behind in Newcastle and treating the 18,441 at Commbank Stadium to a fluid performance only let down by several defensive lapses.
Alanna Kennedy continued her renaissance with her sixth international goal of 2026, and Sam Kerr forced a Mexico own goal, in a match featuring a combined total 34 shot attempts, 10 on target, eight corners and two yellow cards. And, importantly, a Matildas win as they prepare for next year’s World Cup.
“We worked on a couple of things after the game on Saturday and a lot of those things came to life,” Montemurro said after the match. “We got what we wanted out of these games in terms of growth now leading into the World Cup. So for me, it was a successful little tournament.”
Australia’s indefatigable right-back is pleased with the result, particularly in light of Saturday’s performance.
“We had a lot to work on from the last game,” Carpenter says. “Obviously had to work out how to beat their press. We dealt with that tonight most of the time. Still some shaky moments there, but that’s what friendlies are for.”
She also sheds some light on Montemurro’s halftime team talk, which focused on those repeated defensive errors and miscommunications.
“He said these are the situations we are going to be put in, so we need to deal with it,” she says. “Teams are going to pressure us if we want to play the way we want to play – which is with the ball.”
Allegedly. For now. Once the ads are over I should be able to bring you some post-match reaction.
Here we go … Foord is being interviewed and says “it’s very special” to top off her 150th international appearance with a goal. “I just picked the far corner,” she continues. “It could have been a pen as well, but I stayed on my feet and put it in the far corner.”
The worldwide web informs me that the final whistle has blown and the score is still 3-1. I hope I didn’t miss much.
The broadcast camera cuts to Australia’s bench, where everyone except Kerr has a blanket covering their legs. Kerr don’t feel the cold. I’m about to type something about Mexico still feeling the heat when my stream drops out. The wheel of death is my demise. What is happening out there?
Australia 3-1 Mexico after 90+2 minutes
Their job here is done. The game has been won. Mexico, however, are still pushing. Sanchez takes a free kick and Bernal goes for the free header. No dice.
There will be four added minutes.
Australia 3-1 Mexico after 90 minutes
The forward replaces Fowler, while Murphy relieves Kennedy and Rankin takes over from Torpey. Not many minutes left to show what they can do, and there isn’t another camp for four months.
Australia 3-1 Mexico after 87 minutes
And it’s just as well, because she is still causing all kinds of problems. Just before calling it a night she emerges from the left flank and engages in some trickery to get herself into the box. Rule follows her this way and that, and finally anticipates her next move to stop this nonsense progressing any further.
The official crowd at Commbank Stadium is 18,441.
Australia 3-1 Mexico after 83 minutes
Australia 3-1 Mexico after 80 minutes
