Matildas suffer record defaet to Italy

An under-strength Australian side suffered a record 5-1 defeat against Italy in the women’s international football match played in Canberra on Saturday night.

Following a 2-2 draw last Saturday in Sydney, Italy raced out of the blocks to score three times in the opening 17 minutes, with skipper Patrizia Panico adding two more in the second half to complete a hat-trick for the visitors.

Australia’s lone reply came mid-way through the second half from substitute Collette McCallum, but the strike failed to prevent the Matildas suffering a record home loss.

The extremely warm conditions saw play halted once in each half for water breaks, despite the match being delayed to an evening kick-off, having originally been scheduled to commence at 4pm (AEDT).

After losing the experience of veteran skipper Cheryl Salisbury to retirement last week, the influential trio of Heather Garriock, McCallum and Sarah Walsh remained on the bench before entering the fray at halftime to lead a mini-comeback.

Australia put on an improved showing in the second half and, despite creating a number of goalscoring opportunities, the Italians caught out the Matildas defence twice on the counter-attack.

The match also marked the retirement of another long-serving player, with midfielder Joanne Peters substituted to a standing ovation late in her 110th and final outing for the Matildas, following an illustrious 13-year career.

Melania Gabbiadini opened the scoring after six minutes with a close-range header, while Panico doubled the advantage just four minutes later with an easy tap-in after a cross rebounded off the bar.

Tatiana Zorri then had a similar easy finish after Italy sprung the offside trap.

Australia got on the scoresheet with McCallum pulling a goal back for the Matildas through a sweetly struck volley from long-range, which slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Chiara Marchitelli.

“We conceded three early goals, two of them through very fundamental errors, and once you go three behind against a quality team then you start to struggle,” said Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.

“The second thing that was evident today was the fact that we are having a turnover within the squad, so there is not a lot of cohesion within the selection of the team, and therefore within the team itself.

“It will take us a little while to get us back to where we were a year and a half ago. The good thing about these games is it is a good time to get these kind of results out of the way rather than two, three months away from a major tournament.

“It is a transitional, rebuilding phase and over the coming months we will be able to look at quite a few players that showed up well in the W-League.”

An emotional Peters said she had no regrets.

“I’m pleased with the decision, I’m at peace with it,” she said.

“I want to still play W-League, give back to the game through coaching, and give back to the game whatever I can offer the game, it’s in my blood.”