Source :- THE AGE NEWS
It might be recorded as own goal because of the deflection, but Kerr put on the finishing touch to make it happen. It definitely would not have happened had it not been for Carpenter, that relentless runner who controls the loose ball in the middle and races out on the right. Her early cross meets Kerr’s well-timed run and the rest is history. Barreras is credited with the own goal.
Australia 2-1 Mexico after 36 minutes
Australia barely had time to blink! Well, they had enough time for Kerr to race away for an audacious attempt at a second goal. But four minutes after Kennedy’s first, Ordonez has the second. It is also her second of this series.
And this one should not have happened. It did because of another defensive misstep. Arnold, under pressure, distributes the ball to Heatley but she is shut down by Hernandez and able to cross to Ordonez for the assist.
Australia 1-1 Mexico after 26 minutes
The renaissance continues, with the Asian Cup player of the tournament converting a set piece to put Australia ahead. Catley takes a short corner to Fowler, who feeds Wheeler in space at the top of the area. The ball takes a deflection into the box and swirls and twirls … until Kennedy takes it under her control and taps home.
Australia 1-0 Mexico after 22 minutes
Slipping behind the Mexican defence for a pinpoint pass to Kerr. And then it’s Kerr and Wheeler, and Foord, and Fowler, and Fowler shoots! The Manchester City creative, who has the propensity to drift in and out of games, is leaning into this one.
Australia 0-0 Mexico after 18 minutes
On Saturday it was 15 minutes. Right now they are not being allowed much time and space, bar a Matildas defensive lapse from Heatley just now which allowed them dangerously close to Arnold’s goal with no support. And now Raso’s run is interrupted by that Mexican press, with Saldivar stopping her in her tracks. Tough to accomplish against the speed of Raso.
Australia 0-0 Mexico after 14 minutes
She chests the ball down inside the penalty area after Kennedy wriggles through two defenders just enough to lay off, and shoots on the turn.
It isn’t on target. Not like the one Ordonez served up a minute earlier, though the Mexican forward’s effort went straight to Arnold, who started the counter-attack leading to Australia’s big chance.
Australia 0-0 Mexico after eight minutes
They are utilising the wide areas to work the ball into the final third. Wheeler is heavily involved – no surprises there. Fowler takes the ball on the turn and links with Kerr. And Foord gets going with a cross-field pass to Carpenter, who puts in a hopeful cross. Kerr isn’t quite there, and neither are Mexico’s defenders for a split-second, though the visitors do deal with it.
Australia 0-0 Mexico after five minutes
The Matildas shape-shift from their anthem line-up to a team huddle, and Foord gives the group a little pep talk. Kerr does the same. Then they take their positions, and Mexico take the kick-off, which results in the ball almost immediately flying out of play.
Saturday’s goalscorer Diana Ordonez comes into the starting XI. Also in is Jasmine Casarez and midfielder Karla Nieto. They replace Maria Sanchez, Kiana Palacios and Nancy Antonio
Mexico: Esthefanny Barreras (gk), Rebecca Bernal (c), Reyna Reyes, Alexia Delgado, Greta Espinoza, Jasmine Alexis Caserez, Karla Nieto, Angelique Saldivar, Nicolette Hernandez, Diana Ordonez, Kimberly Rodriguez
