The Matildas came into Monday night’s crunch game at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with only one thing in mind, and judging by what transpired on the field, that was to go for the jugular.
Despite being out-passed and conceding the lion’s share of possession to the Olympic champions, the direct and devastating football served up for a besotted full house at Melbourne’s home of football followed a script that not many outside the Australian camp had foreseen.
And for the fans, those diehard Matildas devotees, this was the full gamut of emotions from pre-game, through 90 minutes of exhilarating football with goals and VAR uproar, to a post-game of celebration and relief.
Walking into the London Tavern in Richmond, a comfortable march from AAMI Park, the sea of yellow shirts and the vocal support of the country’s favourite sporting team was a sign of the devotion and commitment to the Matildas’ cause.
The same faces that lit up the stands in Sydney and Brisbane were back for more. Super fan Fatima Flores was perched on the edge of a wall at the centre of the large indoor/outdoor area, maintaining the beat of another chant as if on the scene of an MTV Unplugged set, finally getting to her feet as everyone joined in to roar the words and clap along.
“Trust in me when I say… we love Matildas!”
Fans admitted their nerves for this one, and also their desire to continue this World Cup journey that was gripping the nation.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Fast forward two hours, following an animated walk to the stadium, and those fans were seated together in the middle of the North End, the drums and the voices as one in support of their heroes in turquoise.
Despite some eyebrow-raising boos coming from around the stadium for coach Tony Gustavsson as his name was read out during the starting line-up, and despite some local fans looking to hijack the positive atmosphere, the evening was incredible.
The Matildas scored early, the celebrations curtailed by an offside flag, but the jeers turned to cheers as VAR intervened to award the goal. Kailen Sheridan made an incredible full length stop to deny Hayley Raso a second goal and by now the stadium was in a trance and at fever pitch.
Ellie Carpenter pumped up the crowd even more, urging the fans on the eastern side to their feet as she went to take a throw in. The unrelenting action saw nerves frayed as celebrations were ruined again by VAR, but then only a moment later, Raso had the second and the roof was lifted off.
Super fan Fatima was by now with paramedics tending to her ankle after a freak injury during the celebrations, her reign as capo passing on to the next in line and the transition was seamless.
Canada threw caution to the wind and made an incredible four substitutions at the break. An enthusiastic shout of ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’ from a nearby fan garnered no response, and there was no suggestion of a Mexican wave, the action on the field just too absorbing. The crowd though continued to ride the wave.
Katrina Gorry shot from halfway, such was the confidence coursing through the Australia team, and the Matildas had their third goal when substitute Sophie Schmidt did all the hard work, tracking Mary Fowler’s run but then left her all alone at the last moment to allow her to somehow bundle home captain Caitlin Foord’s cross.
Fowler hit the post, Mackenzie Arnold saved magnificently, and all the while the fans continued to bite their nails despite being three goals up heading into additional time. After all, Til The End is the catch cry.
By the time the final whistle had gone though, VAR had gifted a fourth goal to Australia and any doubts had gone when Steph Catley expertly dispatched a beautiful penalty.
The celebrations around the stadium were huge, the team did a lap of honour, maintaining their distance from the fans, and eventually disappeared down the tunnel to face a jovial media pack.
Alanna Kennedy’s irritation from Thursday night was replaced with relief and happiness.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The old cliché of Australia thriving under pressure when their backs were up against the wall was rolled out, but it was absolutely on point. Kyra Cooney-Cross had a hint of a smile and said she was really happy.
The team had a good feeling about the game; nothing had gone their way against Nigeria, and quite the opposite was the case. She expressed her love for AAMI Park, and said the focus was now on winning the World Cup.
Gorry hailed an incredible night and said that the Matildas can go all the way – using probability as statistics, she said it wasn’t possible to have two bad days in a row, and they were always going to put on a show
The atmosphere at the stadium was electric and topped her favourite venue, Suncorp Stadium, and the celebration at the end was special.
Echoing her teammate’s remarks, Cortnee Vine said the crowd was amazing and it had a massive impact on the game.
Catley was delighted to score a goal ‘at home’, and Fowler felt that the win gave her belief for the games ahead.
Mary Fowler celebrates scoring a goal. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The straight-talking Clare Polkinghorne repeated her words from Thursday night by saying that this was no surprise result, as Raso and Christine Sinclair embraced in the background.
Carpenter lauded the brilliant saves of Arnold and Polks added that the Matildas group contained players in the top leagues around the world, and that this was a mature performance from a group who knew exactly where they had to improve.
By contrast, Sinclair’s post-mortem with the shell-shocked Canadian press was damning. It echoed the men’s exit from Qatar 2022, also at the group stage and gave us a taste of what post-game could have been like in different circumstances.
While there were no excuses, the Canadian players all having played in this type of high-pressure game in the past, she felt no pressure until Australia scored. The home fans then built on the momentum and Canada couldn’t recover.
Her parting words were to label this as a wake-up call to the football authorities in her home land. The lack of a professional league, the lack of support for the national teams, this was the reason for the failure. The ecstasy of two summers ago compared with this loss was indeed tough to accept for the golden girl of Canadian football.
Outside the stadium there were smiles, the content creators and sport bulletins got their final sound bites from the fans, and the party continued at the nearby Pink Lemonade bar as current and former players mingled with the active fans, Chloe Logarzo happy to join in with the chants.
“Trust in me when I say…”
Super fan Fatima’s earlier injury in action was a distant memory as she joined the festivities. This was one part celebration of a wonderful night in Melbourne, and one part planning for what comes next, with logistics required to get this whole vibe to the next game, a probable match-up with Denmark back at the often-soulless cavern of Stadium Australia.
The following morning, with Craig Foster on morning TV urging all fans with the “golden ticket” for Monday’s round of 16 game to get behind their team, all we had was memories of an amazing night.
The FIFA World Cup journey didn’t end in the group stages, did it? All you had to do was believe.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
saw a few, forgotten word for word but they were like 'NSW sold more WWC tickets than anyone else', 'NSW champions of WWC' or 'NSW best fansite'.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
The recent men’s euros was played across 4 time zones
Kangas
Roar Rookie
They have drop in cricket pitches. So not cricket grounds during winter season.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Eden park is a relatively tiny cricket ground with a more rectangular oval shape than much wider ovals . Think they have mt smart stadium in Auckland also for rugby league. Eden park probably has bigger capacity .
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Bernie Not sure what else to say , you are agrived that teams travel over the continents. Another recent example is the men’s euros from Baku to stvpetersbug to London to Paris to Spain Bucharest etc. flights of up to 6 hours, similar to Australia. The people who want to be professional soccer players should be aware that flights over continents are part of the deal. They get paid because they are popular to watch. They help maintain their popularity by playing in tournaments in different countries and cities and continents. I remember Socceroos teams flying 14-16 hours between continents with 3 day breaks between games. It’s not ideal , but the best teams don’t look for excuses. Life is never totally fair or perfect, hence no sport in the world ever has identical breaks between games , just enjoy the games. Don’t know how else to explain it to you . All the best
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
such as?? His propaganda tabloid the SMH didnt report them...
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Yeah once in a lifetime event - have you seen the bunfight in Sydney over building stadia vrs hospitals, schools etc... Wellington is an oval field??
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Yes but still Canada/ireland had to go to perth and conveniently the Matildas stayed on East Coast - the ex girl players said that it was a big disadvantage - Denmark, the likely second round opponent (although they couldnt know this) had to cross the continent 3 times in 17 days which no pro team has to do in Australia. BTW No games were in Vladivostok in Russia WC. Denmark (there is a Denmark in WA and FIFA noticed this!!) obviously played 2 games in Perth because of the enormous Danish diaspora!
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Of course but the venues wouldnt be set - eg Aust playing the starter in Sydney at biggest ground against the minnow was set after teams decided so you are incorrect and Ireland playing in Perth makes some sense...I note the pregame on 7 tonight speaks of the problems playing in Perth and back from current players which befalls Denmark apparently yet no mention of the early round draw fix because they are playing innocent - Denmark is obviously in same side of the draw so I fear the perth effect played in there as well
Waz
Roar Rookie
@Mike Munro “ to me; what we’ve got looks like the ONLY way to run something like a FIFA WC in Australia unless……it were scheduled in Oct/Nov.” Things are working well. Sadly a bigger rectangular stadium for Melbourne is a white elephant in waiting, so the big games need to go to other cities. The reality is, we might be able to swing a WC in Nov/Dec and use Oval stadiums however, we would still struggle to have the required number of stadiums for a Men’s WC. The option might be to partner with, wait for it, Indonesia for the Men’s version.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Waz And this has been my point all along - to those attacking Melbourne and/or the AFL. I think things are working great. The NRL has been largely displaced but found decent temporary facilities such as the SCG, Gabba and Marvel. Tick. We've managed to get 0ver 80K to the Bledisloe Cup match in Melbourne at the MCG; wherein across 48 hours we had 86K at the AFL, 83K at the RU and then another 52K at the AFL again.........Tick ......same weekend (I went to this game) Storm on Friday night at Marvel; and then AFL back at Marvel on the Sat and Sun. Tick. So.......it looks to me like we've got Australia ticking wonderfully well - - really not sure why so many have been bleating, whinging and whining - - to me; what we've got looks like the ONLY way to run something like a FIFA WC in Australia unless......it were scheduled in Oct/Nov.
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
good lawd … theyre playing at wellingtons ‘ cake tin’ stadium ….. how is that possible? more to the point, why waz this travesty allowed? ………………………… and can you see the rugby markings on the pitch?
Texi
Roar Rookie
With some expert guidance of course
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
dont they play cricket at eden park my little sun affected friend?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Sadly your comment is way too insular. Melbourne is no longer the sporting capital of Australia - it lost that “title” a while back. You’re just struggling to accept it lol And as far as this WC is concerned, it is a sporting backwater - the world will be watching Australia over the coming weeks as the competition draws to a close … but it won’t be watching sleepy ol’ Melbourne :laughing:
Waz
Roar Rookie
Most if your points are valid. There is a solution - don’t play the big games in Melbourne. Which is the conclusion James Johnson seems to have drawn; Sydney has two, Brisbane has one, th ats enough for the big games. AAMI is fine for other grouo games as is Hindmarsh and NIB stadium (along with Townsville and Gold Coast). I wasn’t suggesting they build white elephants - just that big games should go where the big stadiums are.
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
waz said melbourne was a sporting backwater ….. melbournes sports events calandar would put sydney and brisbanes combined efforts to shame (hell, throw in perth and adelaide for good measure – melbournes efforts would still be ahead … and significantly) …… and dont they play cricket at eden park, auckland – how is that ok given waz’s unhinged hostility to cricket grounds hosting soccer events?
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Waz And that's the problem....if Victoria, SA and WA used public funds to invest in large stadia that become white elephants.......there'd be massive and justified criticism. In some respects - what you need is something like a Hindmarsh but with more space......to.....like the English did for the Old Trafford test match - to built up a few big scaffolded temporary stands......although for that I gather it takes a 15K stadium up to 22K capacity so far from taking 15K to 40K or 50K. There's pretty well a no win scenario here.......other than........ Alternative scheduling. Had the tournament been scheduled in October/November than the AFL are done with Marvel (don't use it or AFL finals - those are all at the 'G). And outside of non-MCG Prelim finals - then Adelaide/Perth big stadia open up from at the latest - mid/late Sept. Remove the FIFA inflexibility. After all - the examples of the Wallabies and Storm; forced out of venues.....had no issue about playing at the MCG and Marvel respectively even with the remnants of a 50m arc looping up inside their field of play. Beyond that......there's basically no solution unless soccer in Australia (with or without the help of FIFA) build their own. And......seriously - they ain't doing that all around the country. Why? Because the domestic competitions don't drive that demand/economics. Be it the womens or mens. There's not the justification for 40K-60K dedicated rectangle venues Sth/West of Campsie.....and that's only different North/East of Campsie because of the combination of RU, RL and Soccer. Stand alone.....hard to justify.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
there, I knew I wouldn't offend you. But there are a few in the south who are a bit of an embarrassment. Much like the NSW premier who's tweeted some outlandish comments.
Texi
Roar Rookie
Yep, that was a direct comment from Mini Gorry.