You’ve heard enough from me for one night. It’s time for the match report, analysis, player ratings, and oodles more fall-out besides. Thank you for joining me for a banner night for Australian football. Here’s for more to come this World Cup.
The result, the performance, the atmosphere, the occasion Australia and this World Cup craved. Colombia Sunday, the Matildas Monday, this tournament is coming to the boil nicely.
Four hours ago, Robert Moylan was all doom and gloom. His latest email is headlined: “I was wrong”.
“Nobody could have predicted a result like this against the Olympic champions. Who’d have thunk it after the Nigeria debacle? The Matildas stepped up big time and truly looked Ike a contender. Where has this offence been? As I said before, you and the readers can have at me for my skepticism. But happy for everyone who hoped for another opportunity in the knockout round. Well done, ladies.” Chapeau Bob.
“I think the Football God’s decided that they wanted Sam Kerr to show the world one more time why she is one of the most amazing natural goalscorers in Football history, male or female. Stars have to shine,” emails Mary Waltz.
Kerr did not look anywhere near fit tonight, despite lacing up her boots, but she gets another week to rest her calf, so who knows, maybe a cameo off the bench against Denmark isn’t off the cards?
“I honestly don’t think that the 4-0 scoreline flattered the Matildas,” emails HarryofOz. I agree. Such a powerful, energetic, skilful performance from back to front. Canada never had a sniff.
There wasn’t a poor performance among the Australians tonight. Arnold was alert in goal, the defence was unruffled, the midfield was immense, and the combination of Foord, Fowler and Raso up front compensated for the absence of Sam Kerr.
Credit to Tony Gustavsson for getting his team up after a difficult fortnight, and tactically rejigging his system, replacing the direct balls with controlled possession in the final third.
The Matildas began the night facing a group stage exit. They end it on top of Group B and set for a round of 16 clash in Sydney this time next week, most likely against Denmark.
Canada – Olympic gold medallists and ranked seven in the world – go home. Nigeria take second spot in the group and progress to a second round clash in Brisbane, most likely with England.
The Matildas survive! Australia’s World Cup finally comes alive.
90+7 mins: No sooner is she on than Grant looks unsteady on her feet following a collision with Buchanan.
90+6 mins: Gorry finally leaves the field after yet another magnificent performance. She has become the heartbeat of this Australian side. In her place comes Charlotte Grant for a taste of World Cup action.
90+5 mins: What a night for the Matildas. Backs to the wall, chips down, do or die, etc etc and they have risen to the occasion in quite the fashion.
Australia’s stand-in skipper scores her second penalty of the tournament, curling a left-footed effort wide of Sheridan’s dive. The Matildas are into the round of 16.
VAR back in the action, and replays prove Gorry was clattered into by Fleming’s clumsy challenge centimetres inside the box.
90+3 mins: Make that full-time. Nigeria through in second place as things stand, set for a likely date with England in the round of 16.
90+2 mins: Still 0-0 in the other game, deep into injury time.
90+1 mins: Eight minutes of time added on.
90 mins: Cooney-Cross delivers with her right foot but Sheridan punches clear. Cooney-Cross again, this time with her left foot, but another dangerous cross skims off heads and out the other side.
89 mins: Viens smashes one with violence from the corner of the box. It’s probably fading wide but Arnold is taking no chances and fingertips it behind for a corner. The Matildas neutralise the danger and hustle down the other end with Vine’s persistence earning a corner for the hosts.
88 mins: Buchanan was lucky to escape that tussle, and she is again as she tangles with Foord in the box. Frappart was on the spot and saw no indiscretion.
87 mins: Cooney-Cross, what a shift! From the base of midfield she bursts forward and almost robs Buchanan in Canada’s defence with only the goalkeeper to beat thereafter.
86 mins: Canada are, belatedly, starting to apply some pressure, but Australia have plenty of bodies around the hopeful balls into the box, and they remain alert to the second efforts. On the bench, the unused Sam Kerr removes the strapping around her calf. Kerr-calf-watch will continue for a few more days.
84 mins: Second substitution for Australia with Van Egmond – who played very well – being replaced by the experienced Clare Polkinghorne. That will mean Australia revert to a 5-2-3 with a third central defender now on the field.
83 mins: I might have to take back my criticism of Fowler, she has grown into this game and not for the first time in recent minutes slaloms gracefully beyond a couple of Canadians through the lines. Although it’s someone else who’s caught Ian Wright’s eye. Wrighty is in the stands, by the way.
82 mins: Canada are not giving up, but they have yet to mount any consistent pressure in their chase for a goal. Speaking of goals, Mackenzie Arnold, in Australia’s, is booked for time-wasting over a goal kick.
80 mins: FOWLER HITS THE POST! Gorry dances her way into the box from the right but instead of pulling the trigger tries to play the ball across the six yard box. The ball ricochets out to Fowler who hammers a crisp left-footed worm-burner that cannons back off the post.
78 mins: Thanks Canada:
77 mins: That mass of bodies competing for that header has resulted in Hunt being checked for concussion on-field. Off the field goes Quinn, for Canada, replaced by Smith. I make that six subs from Canada, so I’m not quite sure what’s going on.
76 mins: GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR CANADA. The long ball is heaved into the box, Hunt doesn’t make a great headed clearance and the ball falls to Schmidt who leathers a ball that’s deflected over the bar from seven metres out. The corner is well delivered but Australia clear the second ball after four players initially collide mid-air competing for the header.
74 mins: Gorry does finds a teammate with a similar pass, and it’s the tireless Foord who runs off Lawrence, cuts in from the left and curls a shot on goal that’s blocked away.
Time for an Australian substitute. And it’s the double-goalscorer Raso who makes way for Vine. This is a perfect opportunity for Australia to exploit the Sydney FC flyer’s pace on the break.
73 mins: Canada are getting increasingly desperate in search of a goal, but they don’t look like breaking down the aAtildas. And while they push, Canada are leaving space in behind that Fowler almost exploits – but she overhits her through-ball.
72 mins: It’s still 0-0 in the other match in Group B, so as things stand Australia will top the group.
71 mins: Foord does superbly to keep a hopeful ball in play. That allows Gorry time to settle the game down as Canada push players high up the field chasing one of three necessary goals.
69 mins: Van Egmond booked for time-wasting I think as Canada prepare a long punt forward from a free-kick.
“Bit harsh on Fowler,” emails Mike Ford. “Her job is to be in the right place at the right time. A few times she’s also held the ball up waiting for runs. She works hard off the ball if needed, and also has that great “Who me” celebration.” I did enjoy the celebration – but in general play she seems to be on a different wavelength to the rest of her team (to me).
68 mins: Canada’s resulting corner from the left doesn’t clear the first defender. Unforgivable.
66 mins: Gorry keeps on trucking, winning the ball in midfield and finding EVE. Van Egmond tries the no-look pass for Fowler, but the youngster wasn’t expecting it and the momentum ebbs away. Canada break and find Viens through the middle. She smartly draws two defenders and offloads to Rose steaming in from the right. She unleashes a fierce drive that Arnold repels at point-blank range. Excellent save low with her right boot.
64 mins: Leon’s night is done. On comes Evelyne Viens as Canada’s fifth and final substitute for the night. Canada now look to be reshuffling into a 3-4-3 formation, with Australia still in the 4-3-3 with the XI that has served them well so far.
63 mins: Leon, Canada’s brightest spark is down again after a challenge with Raso. The break allows Priestman the chance to bring her troops into a huddle and show them a whiteboard. Presumably it’s just a still of Ted Lasso tapping the “Believe” sign.
61 mins: Gorry goes down again in midfield. As hard as she is, maybe she doesn’t need to risk her fitness with the scoreline as it is and plenty of subs on the bench.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVndWFyZGlhbi5jb20vZm9vdGJhbGwvbGl2ZS8yMDIzL2p1bC8zMS9tYXRpbGRhcy12cy1jYW5hZGEtYXVzdHJhbGlhLWxpdmUtd29tZW5zLXdvcmxkLWN1cC0yMDIzLXVwZGF0ZXMtc2NvcmUtYXVzLXYtY2FuLWdyb3VwLWItc2NvcmVzLWxpbmV1cC10ZWFtLWZvb3RiYWxsLXNvY2Nlci1maWZhLXd3Yy1sYXRlc3QtbmV3cy3SAQA?oc=5
2023-07-31 12:21:58Z
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