The Matildas will head to Sydney for a heavyweight Asian Cup showdown with Korea Republic on Sunday where the chance to top group A awaits after a free-flowing 4-0 win over Iran on a rain-soaked night on the Gold Coast in front of 22,398 fans.
Goals to Amy Sayer, Mary Fowler and two from Alanna Kennedy instilled confidence that Australia isn’t that far behind its rivals in its pursuit of a second regional title.
It was far from a complete performance, but it was considerably better than what was on show against the Philippines in their tournament opener in Perth at the weekend.
The big question is whether the Matildas can build on this in front of an expectant and sizeable crowd at Stadium Australia or if there’ll be regression under pressure?
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“Our heart goes out to them” | 01:28
JOE MONTEMURRO IS LIVING UP TO THE HYPE
It’s easy to forget Joe Montemurro has only been in charge of the Matildas for nine months and in that time, he has overseen just nine matches.
The impact has been huge and the players look reborn. When he was appointed in June there were fears the former Arsenal and Juventus coach wouldn’t have enough time to prepare the side properly for the tournament. Bedding in a style and ethos can be a long process filled with potholes. It’s still early days of course, but those fears seem to be unfounded and the assurances from Montemurro that time wouldn’t be an issue look grounded in fact rather than fiction.
The coach might’ve described the current state of his project as a “controlled mess” after their first up win in the west, but its far more than that. There is now an instantly recognisable way the national team plays. The side has become comfortable in possession and has quickly developed multiple ways to break an opponent down. One-touch football, with clever runs being rewarded by intelligent passes, was littered throughout this victory.
There is one part of the puzzle that remains unanswered though. Are the Matildas able to look as composed when their opponents ask more questions of Australia’s defenders?
“For me the defensive stuff is all relative,” Montemurro told Channel 10 after the game.
“If we have the ball we don’t need to defend.”
That tells you everything you need to know about Australia’s coach.
Joe calls for more ‘clinical’ Matildas | 01:40
MARY FOWLER HAS BEEN UNLOCKED
Montemurro also seems to have unlocked Mary Fowler’s incredible potential.
The Manchester City star hasn’t always been able to show her creative genius on the international stage.
Most of that has been Fowler not being fed the ball enough by her teammates when she drops into half spaces. On the surface it appears a risky pass, but the 23-year-old navigates those tight areas by shifting the ball on quickly. The danger disappears before a defender even gets near her.
“She is a player that can create something out of nothing,” Montemurro told Channel 10 prior to kick-off.
The frequency with which Fowler has been able to get on the ball in the first two matches of this tournament has been noticeable and in her first start for 332 days after recovering from an ACL injury, she also poked home a goal.
“It felt really special,” Fowler told Channel 10.
“I had a little moment to myself walking out there where I was like it’s nice to be back and to just think back on the rehab and appreciate the time that I’ve been away.
“I was grateful for the moment.
“It’s really special that it has been in front of a home crowd. I have some family here and then to get a goal and the win just topped it off.”
Fowler got through almost an hour against Iran after being used as a second half substitute in the opening group stage game against the Philippines.
She had played just 78 minutes in two appearances for Manchester City in the weeks prior to her arrival in camp. Those games came three weeks apart and sparked fears Fowler wouldn’t be ready for the tournament.
After featuring in two games in less than a week those concerns have been dispelled.
“We see the brilliance of a very, very good player that is starting to come back into form,” Montemurro said.
“She is playing freely. That’s what you want her to do; to have the freedom to be the player we know she can be and if she’s happy, I’m happy.”
Kerr statement! Tillies win WAC opener | 01:57
ROTATION KEY TO CLAIMING SILVERWARE
Montemurro made five changes to his starting side for the second game of the group stage.
Amy Sayer, Courtney Nevin, Alanna Kennedy, Charlie Rule and Fowler all came into the starting side.
Replacing almost half the team was a bold call but one that paid dividends. Not because those left out wouldn’t have been up to the task but because those who came in showed they were. Fowler proved she could start for Australia again after those long months in the rehabilitation room working on her knee. Kennedy, a stalwart in the heart of the Matildas’ defence for most of her illustrious international career, has morphed into a holding midfielder in the post Tony Gustavsson era. It’s an area where Australia has a huge amount of depth (we haven’t even seen Kyra Cooney-Cross on the field at this tournament yet) and to play Kennedy there seems like a luxury.
Charlie Rule was the latest to be given a chance to fill the hole left by Kennedy at centre-back and while it was a relatively quiet night in defence for the 23-year-old who plays for Brighton in the Women’s Super League in England, she did manage to spray several passes into attacking areas that caught the eye.
Nevin spent the night bombing up and down the left flank and again showed herself as one of many viable options in that position while Sayer scored an outrageous opener from a shot that looked every bit like an attempted cross in just the eighth minute. She spent the rest of the night curling smart passes into dangerous areas.
“We’ve got a very good squad,” Montemurro told Channel 10 prior to kick-off.
“The ability to rotate the squad is always important in these tournaments and obviously we’ve got a quick turnaround in regards to this game and the Korea game so there was a few common sense and sensible decisions we had to make and we’re very comfortable with it.”
That level of comfort would have only increased by the final whistle.
A lack of rotation was a key issue at the Women’s World Cup just under three years ago.
The team that took to the field in the third-place playoff against Sweden in Brisbane looked drained and the final scoreline could easily have been more than 2-nil.
Increased competition for places in the starting side could be a bigger issue than fatigue in this tournament.
Matildas stars facing fitness concerns | 06:06
HUGE CALL AROUND MACKENZIE ARNOLD AWAITS
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was left out of the starting side again. With Teagan Micah pulling out of the squad just prior to the tournament getting underway, it looked like Arnold would be the first-choice shot-stopper only for a calf issue to derail those plans. Chloe Lincoln has recorded back-to-back clean sheets in Arnold’s absence but is yet to be really tested given Australia’s dominance with the ball.
Does Montemurro restore Arnold between the sticks against Korea Republic in a match that will have a large bearing on how easy the side’s route to the semi-finals will be? Or does he stick with Lincoln?
Asked about where Arnold is at in her recovery from her calf issue Montemurro said it was a “technical decision just to give her a little more time.”
“We both came up with an idea in terms of that.
“Players always want to play but it was definitely my decision from a technical and tactical perspective to have her right for the tournament,” he said.
STATE OF THE GROUP AND IMPACT ON THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS
The Matildas sit in second place in group A on goal difference behind their next opponents, Korea Republic, who also have two wins.
If the tournament hosts can win on Sunday in Sydney, then they’ll play one of the best third place qualifiers in the quarterfinals.
Anything other than three points will see Australia finish second, setting up a meeting with the runner-up from group B. That is most likely going to be Korea DPR or China unless Bangladesh or Uzbekistan can pull off big upsets.
“It’s going to be an exciting game,” said Montemurro of the clash with Korea Republic.
“There’s two teams that want to dominate the game and want to dominate possession.
“It’s going to be a wrestling match from that perspective.”
An easier route to the final four would be preferable. The Asian Cup also doubles as the region’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
If the Matildas make the semi-finals or win a playoff featuring the quarterfinal losers then they’ll automatically pick up one of six direct qualifying slots.