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
Betty B
Guest
she plays for Roar - give her W League club a mention too
Hector Stubbs
Guest
Netherlands and Australia up in the FIFA rankings, France and Germany down. England and the US stay the same How are the ranking points allocated? Are there extra for higher ranked opponents? And were there more points for the Dutch winning the UEFA Women's Euro 2017?
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Roar Guru
\Matildas make history with seven straight games unbeaten The Westfield Matildas scored five unanswered goals against China to defeat the Asian giants 5-1 at Kardinia Park in Geelong. The Matildas were slow out the blocks to begin the match when they went down 1-0 on seven minutes. Guixin finished her chance after receiving a delightful ball from Yanlu. Kyah Simon scored her first goal since March when she lobbed the Chinese keeper from 30 yards to equalise but Australia were determined to punish the visitors. The Matildas kicked into gear when they made it 2-1 through an own goal after Caitlin Foord's cross. Sam Kerr made history scoring in six consecutive games for her country, dispossessing the Chinese defence and sliding past Lu Feifei. A storm delay didn't stop the pressure from Australia and Sam Kerr was ever so close to making it 4-1 before the break. China were fastest out the blocks in the second half forcing goalkeeper Lydia Williams to three saves in as many minutes. Sam Kerr quashed any hopes of China replying to the Matildas as she leaped high to head in the fourth goal taking her tally to eight goals in six games for club and country. Chloe Logarzo scored her first goal for her country as Sam Kerr slid across for the Sydney FC defender to slide it into an empty net, rounding off a 5-1 romp to finish off the calendar year for the Matildas. Alen Stajcic's side enjoyed a seventh straight game unbeaten.
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Roar Guru
86' Hayley Raso does extremely well to block two shots before streaming away and winning a foul Big impact off the bench for the U.S Based defender. Matildas 5-1 China
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Roar Guru
MATILDAS SUBSTITUTION OFF: Caitlin Foord ON Lisa De Vanna OFF: Sam Kerr ON: Larissa Crummer OFF: Lydia Williams ON; Eilza Campbell
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80' Carpenter trying to find the top corner and a cheeky smile... Matildas 5-1 China
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CHINA SUBTITUTION OFF: Li Danyang ON: Li Dongna
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MATILDAS SUBSTITUTION OFF: CHLOE LOGARZO ON: MICHELLE HEYMAN
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72' LYDIA WILLIAMS IS SUPERHUMAN Peng with miles of space on the right hand side of the box and she places it perfectly at the near post but Williams gets a fingertip to move it onto the post and out. Matildas 5-1 China
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68' GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL LOGARZO'S FIRST FOR HER COUNTRY Amy Harrison plays a beautiful reverse ball to Kerr in the box who slides across for Logarzo who slides it into an empty net. MATILDAS 5-1 China
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ATTENDANCE AT KARDINIA PARK, GEELONG 6338
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62' SUPER STOP! Williams with another top shelf save to turn Jiali's shot around the near post! 4-1
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MATILDAS SUBSTITUTION OFF: Katrina Gorry ON: Hayley Raso OFF: Emily Van Egmond ON: Amy Harrison
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60' CHANCE! Kerr runs on to a long-ball and into the box but just loses her footing as she goes to strike!
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KERR HAS DONE IT AGAIN THE LEAP AND HEADER LIKE TIM CAHILL 6 goals in the last eight days for club and country Ball in by Emily Van Egmond and the keeper comes but gets no where near the ball as Kerr tremendously leaps to head the ball in for 4-1 She is a national treasure! MATILDAS 4-1 China
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55' Logarzo's tackle releases Foord in the attacking third but the Chinese defence recovers to close her down on this occasion!
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WILLIAMS DENIES CHINA AGAIN GOOD SAVE!!! Kellond Knight's good work is undone by a poor backpass as the Chinese winger streams past Kennedy and slams it across goal to the back stick where the shot is parried away by Williams. Matildas 3-1 China
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48' Ren Xui Shin has another blinder at Williams but it's just over the crossbar Matildas struggling at the beginning of the half conceding three shots in as many minutes.
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Australia slow off the blocks again as Kennedy lost the ball in their third. Yan Liu moved beyond Ellie Carpenter and the shot on goal is straight at Lydia Williams Matildas 3-1 China
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47' First shot of the second half comes from China Reng Ji Shin let's fly into the clutches of Lydia Williams