Sam Kerr’s brilliance has fired her Matildas to a memorable and thoroughly merited 2-0 triumph over high-flying England in a huge fillip to their World Cup dreams.
Demonstrating once again why she’s the deadliest striker in the women’s game at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on Tuesday, the Australian captain pounced on a first-half error by England skipper Leah Williamson to put the Matildas ahead.
Then she turned provider after the break, her pinpoint cross being headed home by Charlotte Grant, via a deflection off the hapless Williamson, to hand the European champions their first defeat in 31 matches.
It was an extraordinary result, carved out against all the odds by an injury-hit team on a miserable, rain-drenched night in London which perfectly demonstrated coach Tony Gustavsson’s belief that the Matildas need fear no-one at their home World Cup in July.
What an overseas send-off this was – and it was no absolutely no fluke.
From the outset, Kerr’s team, faced by an overwhelmingly partisan full house of 14,500, were as aggressive, in-your-face and committed as Gustavsson had promised they would be.
With their punch and invention on the counter-attack, they consistently discomfited a team who hadn’t lost a match for two years and had just won the Finalissima against South American champions Brazil.
Indeed, Australia might have won even more convincingly as England’s rearguard were stretched time and again by their sharpness on the counter-attack, with substitute Cortnee Vine, who’d come on for the injured Tameka Yallop in the first half, excelling.
Kerr was magnificent, leading from the front and ending worries over her fitness to spearhead their challenge.
The Chelsea ace was pronounced fit to lead the line in a starting line-up that showed two changes from the team beaten 1-0 by Scotland on Friday.
“It does a lot (for the game back home),” said Kerr.
“England are such a footballing nation that when people wake up and see the Matildas have beaten them, it’s big news.”
Gustavsson added: “Their combination of head and heart makes me really proud.”
Kerr, rested for the Scotland game with Gustavsson refusing to say whether she was carrying an injury, replaced Larissa Crummer up front and the difference for Australia was like night and day.
With the rain driving down, the Matildas started, as Gustavsson suggested they would, without looking remotely overawed.
Hayley Raso provided the early spur with a couple of driving runs and a blocked shot as the Australians more than matched the European champions in the physicality stakes.
But as the game wore on, it appeared England were increasingly finding some rhythm, with Georgia Stanway causing Charlotte Grant problems down the right flank and Alessia Russo volleying wide from a Chloe Kelly cross.
But out of nowhere, Kerr struck in typically predatory fashion. She had barely had a sniff for the first 32 minutes but when Clare Hunt hoofed a long ball forward, she was on to her opposing captain Williamson like a hawk, shadowing her and anticipating that she’d try to nod the ball back to her keeper Mary Earps.
She did just that, but too weakly and Kerr diverted it expertly first-time over the advancing keeper for the 63rd goal of her storied international career.
England were stunned, but though they redoubled their pressure, Australia’s back four remained steadfast through to the break, despite the dispiriting sight of a limping Yallop being helped off the pitch after she came off worse in a challenge with Kelly.
Australia could have nicked a second with a couple of breaks early in the second half which ended with Kerr missing two opportunities she’d normally gobble up.
England, while enjoying the lion’s share of possession, created only one really glaring chance which sub Rachel Daley headed wide, but Clare Polkinghorne and Hunt, absolute rocks in central defence, ensured there was no way through for the deflated home attack.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Casey Dumont is the Redmayne of womens penalty shootouts. Saved a penalty in the first half. Talk about working overtime.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Absolute madness in the A-league now womens final 3-3 with extra time with final ball of the game.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Anyone bothering to watch the W_league finals. Victory vs City, the standouts Pollicina and Holly McNamara. Pollicina a technical player with solid finishing now has 9 goals and put the though ball fot Holly McNamarra to set here up with the asist McNamara has some speed not at Vine's level but she has better quality delivery on the final ball. These two should be definites for the Matildas squad.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Heyman is a very good no 9 and certainly many levels above Crummer, mobility is not her strongpoint though. Ideally you need a fast second striker with Heyman these days.. She has shown recently some great hold up play followed by great through balls with that Serbian player who makes great runs up the center. Thats why Canberra made a late come back this season.
Saffi
Roar Rookie
Great summary AGO. I would add a few other highlights: Mackenzie Arnold has been fantastic in goal. She has the confidence and aggression that we need in the last line. Hunt worked tremendously with Polks. Hunt is far more stable in defence than Alana Kennedy. Gorry was pushed/Shoved/bullied off the ball against Scotland. She learnt from that experience and fought hard for every ball (and won) against England. Overall, a great team effort with lots of upsides for the World Cup to come.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
And by the way that will be a n absolute cracker of a game
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I have a fiver Courtney Vine is playing in either Scandinavia or England next season mate
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Hawkesby yes well worth a try
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Well at least its a big publicity lift for the tournament - but you would have to be encouraged by the way the team is playing now
Garry
Roar Rookie
On that I'll be staying after the mens on sunday to watch the womens... and praying Vine's fit as she's a point of difference.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
We have come on big time since we last played USA - what's more our Matildas move up a gear when playing stronger opposition
Simoc
Roar Rookie
There is no such thing as an International friendly game. The results count as International matches and the players get to play for Australia.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Well the scoreline should tell you that Redondo. From what looked a totally inept defence 12 months back, this morning England got few shots at goal and hardly any clear cut chances. And supposedly they have a great attack.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Concur AGO, and throw in the fact that Chloe Logarzo, Foordie, and a few others were out, and this win is worth applauding. Those girls are professional footballers of the highest order. They have the experience and maturity to keep it real and understand the enormity of what is coming.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Nailed it Jupiter. As a former sweeper, that defensive effort was a cracking effort. The Poms started to show frustration in my opinion
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
You know what I am seeing here, lads talking about Women’s football and with sound knowledge. Respect, kudos and encouragement to you all. To me this says you are the real deal. You support football, you are the definition of a football supporter. Men’s, Women’s, even the local under 7’s. I feel privileged to be amongst you. Well done lads.
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
I whole-heartedly agree with all of your points. And your final assertion regarding Mary Fowler is spot on - perhaps her move to City was premature in hindsight. Her improved work-ethic seems to have coincided with lost lethality in the final third. Hopefully Gustavsson weaponises her as the WC arrives.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
agree about JJ (took me a while to ping), lots of good things come out of Qld and he knows better than many in our game that we're all in this together, we've all got something to contribute for the greater good, but geez, it's a slowly moving ship that doesn't take too kindly to being turned.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Great result. And well deserved. A few observations: 1) just as England were without Beth Mead and some other nominal first-choice players we too were without Caitlin Foord (who has been killing it of late) and Steph Catley who are arguably in our first XI plus others who are quite possibly first XI or at the very least would be amongst first choice subs like Kennedy, Van Egmond, Kellond-Knight and Simon. 2) The focus is 100% on the next few months with the WC coming up - but I remember one of the big concerns last year outside of the drop in form was the lack of green shoots with youngsters coming through for 2024 and beyond - however there seem to be some good young players who are starting to break though for the next generation (and in some cases for the right here and now). 3) How good is Sam Kerr? She is an incredible footballer (the touch over the keeper for her goal was exquisite), but she is such an inspiration to teammates with her relentless work ethic and leadership. If you are going to have a chance at going far and/or winning a World Cup you need a truly world class player. Thankfully we have Sam. 4) Mary Fowler has lost some confidence since first breaking through a year or two ago. I don't think the move to Man City has worked out the way she wanted. Being young as well has maybe effected her confidence a bit. That said, I still really think that being in amongst the Matildas in World Cup camp (much like all the Socceroos did recently in Qatar) that she will be able to focus solely on that and take her game to the next level that we need for the WC.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
If it was a mens game I would agree. However my observation from womens games is that friendlies often aren't that far of the intensity of competitive/tournament matches. I apply a higher degree of credibility to results in womens friendlies compared to mens - and I'm not just saying this because we beat England lol.