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Matildas LIVE update: Matildas lead 2-1 at half-time after two goals from newcomer

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Source :- THE AGE NEWS

That’s it for the first half as the Matildas head into the break in the lead.

Australia 2-1 Haiti, half-time

If Joe Montemurro has ever needed a reason to start the squad’s newest members, Leticia McKenna is giving him plenty.

On her first start for the side, she’s scored twice in the first half. She manages to get the ball into the back of the net after an attempt from Raso is blocked.

She also scored on her debut in April this year and this is just her fourth appearance for the side. That’s three goals in four appearances for the 24-year-old.

Australia 2-1 Haiti, 44 minutes

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Haiti have come close to taking the lead after a mistake from Wini Healtey when she fails to intercept a cross that comes right to her feet. It slips through instead and leaves Grant and Arnold to collide in an attempt to stop the ball. The deflection off Grant heads towards the goal before it hits the post and Wheeler can clear the rebound.

That is some seriously poor defending for Australia who nearly concede to Haiti twice. The absence of Ellie Carpenter (on the bench) and Steph Catley, are noticeable.

Durmonay goes down injured and there’s a brief delay in the match before she returns.

Australia 1-1 Haiti, 35 minutes

Sam Kerr looks on during the match. Getty Images for Football Australia

Clare Wheeler is in the book after a bad foul on Durmonay, claiming the first yellow card of the match.

Raso is fouled by Roseline Eloissaint and wins Australia’s third free kick of the half and she picks up a yellow card herself it seems for protesting a referee’s call.

Australia 1-1 Haiti, 33 minutes

Hayley Raso picks up a yellow card.Getty Images for Football Australia

Foord goes down with appeals for a foul that isn’t given and Haiti have a brief spell on the ball.

Raso fires a cross in the 26th minute and it’s blocked by Kethna Louis to go our for a corner. McKenna again delivers the ball which finds Kerr who heads the ball from the back post but it’s blocked.

That’s another set-piece without much to show for it for Australia, who won a fair few in the match against Germany.

Australia 1-1 Haiti, 27 minutes

Australia win a corner and it falls to Sam Kerr who gets a shot off before it’s blocked.

They win another free kick after a foul from Sherly Jeudy on McKenna. She takes it short, passing to Torpey who delivers the ball into the box but Haiti with the ball back.

Australia 1-1 Haiti, 19 minutes

Charli Grant passes the ball. Getty Images for Football Australia

The Matildas are trying to slow the pace of this match after those early goals. They’ve mostly maintained possession bar a few small mistakes from the midfield and defence.

Kerr gets an attempt in the ninth minute when she heads the ball after a Caitlin Foord cross but it’s without much sting and Naila Louissaint catches it comfortably.

For Haiti, Dermonay has another attempt on goal but that too, is a comfortable save for Arnold.

Australia 1-1 Haiti, 14 minutes

Clare Wheeler looks for a pass.Getty Images for Football Australia

Australia have lost their lead as Haiti equalise before the third minute is over. Melchie Dumornay strides solo up the pitch shooting with her left foot past a diving McKenzie Arnold into the bottom-right corner of the match.

Australia 1-1 Haiti, 3 minutes

What a start for the Matildas! Hayley Raso won a set-piece early on as Leticia McKenna, making her first start for the Matildas, delivers the ball into the box.

The Matildas celebrate scoring against Haiti.Getty Images for Football Australia

They hold on to the ball and then 80 seconds into the match, McKenna scores from a Clare Wheeler cross. What a shot.

Australia 1-0 Haiti, 2 minutes

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The players are out, anthems have been sung and the match is now under way in Chambly. Australia start with the ball.

Australia 0-0 Haiti, 1 minute

The players huddle before the match. Getty Images for Football Australia