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Fresh from a comfortable victory over China at AAMI Park on Wednesday night in front of a crowd of over 10,000 fans, the Matildas travel to Kardinia Park in Geelong for their second match of the series against China. Join The Roar for a live blog from 4:30pm AEDT.
Last Encounter
Australian women’s football’s crowning jewel Samantha Kerr scored a brace which included a 30-yard screamer as well as Tameka Butt to comfortably defeat China.
Vegalta Sendai forward Caitlin Foord was instrumental down the left hand side providing two assists in the match as well as creating four clear cut chances for the Matildas.
Australia ran the show with the majority of possession and shot supremacy but head coach Alan Stajcic was disappointed that his side couldn’t punish China more with a total of 19 shots and eight on target.
A similar dominant display is expected again in Geelong.
Wednesday night’s game was a clear example of how each nation plays. Australia attacks, and attacks, and attacks with pace and good use of width.
Their press in the opening 15 minutes was relentless as they put the Chinese defence under immense pressure when playing out.
For most parts of the game, China were camped in their own back third desperately trying to maintain their defensive shape as the Aussie rotations and balls in behind for the attacking wingbacks caused all sorts of problems.
China won’t change. They rarely do. They have a structure and stick to it. And so do the Australians.
And with this being the final game of a breakthrough 2017 – and with spots in the 2018 Asian Cup squad on the horizon – expect this Australian team to attack the contest with the same vigour as Wednesday.
What’s more, with Sam Kerr on the pitch, anything can happen.
Prediction
A bit more clinical from the Matildas tonight. I’ll go for a 4-0 win for Australia
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