Australia’s Olympic campaign kicks off two days ahead of the opening ceremony with the Matildas facing New Zealand in their first group game of the women’s football tournament at 9.30pm AEST on Wednesday.
Australia and New Zealand are in the same group as Sweden and the USA. The Swedes produced a shock in Wednesday’s earlier game, beating the USA 3-0.
The Matildas, who were eliminated by Brazil in the quarterfinals five years ago, have struggled for form in recent months under new coach Tony Gustavsson.
Australia have lost to Germany, Denmark, Netherlands and Japan while drawing with Sweden. The back-to-back games against the Germans and Dutch were particularly concerning with Australia conceding five goals in each.
The Aussies should have enough firepower to get past the Kiwis, with Chelsea striker Sam Kerr and Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord in attack, and three points will be crucial with Sweden and the United States also in the group.
“Any time I pull on the jumper I feel really proud, but to call yourself an Olympian is something special,” Kerr said this week.
“Not many people get to do it so I’m really proud to be an Olympian and to represent Australia.
“It’s different to say a World Cup just for the fact that it is the Olympics. It’s a little bit prestigious, it’s just overwhelming.”
The Matildas have 12 players returning from the squad that went to Rio, and along with Kerr and Foord have Lyon defender Ellie Carpenter, Arsenal’s Steph Catley and Lydia Williams, and Alanna Kennedy, who played last season with Tottenham Hotspur.
The top two finishers from each group qualify as do the top two third-ranked teams across the group stage.
“I think it’s a tough group, obviously, but when you go to an Olympic Games and a World Cup, you want to play the best and beat the best so it’s a good challenge for us,” said Kerr.
Australia’s first ever women’s international was against New Zealand and have played their geographic rivals more than any other nation. The Kiwis are coached by Tom Sermanni, who led the side to Australia’s first ever Asian Cup win in 2010.
Kick-off: 9:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
TV: Channel Seven
Online: 7plus
Odds: Matildas $1.30, New Zealand $12.00, Draw $4.80 (odds via PlayUp)
Matildas
1. Lydia Williams, 2. Sam Kerr, 3. Kyra Cooney-Cross, 4. Clare Polkinghorne, 5. Aivi Luik, 6, Chloe Logarzo, 7. Steph Catley, 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 9. Caitlin Foord, 10. Emily van Egmond, 11. Mary Fowler, 12. Ellie Carpenter, 13. Tameka Yallop, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 15. Emily Gielnik, 16, Hayley Raso, 17. Kyah Simon, 18. Teagan Micah, 19. Courtney Nevin, 20. Charlotte Grant, 21. Laura Brock, 22. Mackenzie Arnold
New Zealand
1. Erin Nayler, 2. Ria Percival, 3. Anna Green, 4. CJ Bott, 5. Meikayla Moore, 6. Claudia Bunge, 7. Ali Riley, 8. Abby Erceg, 9. Gabi Rennie, 10. Annalie Longo, 11. Olivia Chance, 12. Betsy Hassett, 13. Paige Satchell, 14. Katie Bowen, 15. Daisy Cleverley, 16. Emma Rolston, 17. Hannah Wilkinson, 18. Anna Leat, 19. Elizabeth Anton, 20. Marisa van der Meer, 21. Michaela Robertson, 22. Victoria Esson
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I saw this media report today: "Captain Sam Kerr has explained why the Matildas chose to pose with the aboriginal flag and not the Australian one before opening their Olympic campaign with a win over New Zealand." I trust she confirmed only the aboriginal taxpayer is paying for their lovely working holiday then.
Norman Stanton
Guest
Why don't we better understand the importance of goal difference in tournament play? Conceding that goal in the last few minutes could be the difference in determining who goes on to the next round. Great first half: incisive, fluent, mostly accurate in passing, some good combinations, some good interceptions. Very ordinary second half. Mind you the Olympics warm-up results - Sweden and US especially - don't look as bad as they did so just maybe .....
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The Matildas were in decent control of the match until the coach took off the fast ball winners in Raso and Tameka and put on slow non ball winning players. Leaving Van Egmond the jogger as we see Ellie Carpenter had to run back while the jogging Van Egmond put up yet another defensive no show for the NZ goal and the old players at the back couldn't mark up. Playing out from the back was an embarassment. That is the number one problem they have adopted when put under pressure they try to play out. Kerr was a level above, certainly made the win. Caitlin Foord got heaps of great ball and did little with it. Kyah Simon did a few decent passes but her finishing could have been better. Raso, Tameka, Catley, Carpenter, Foord physically were good and won a lot of ball. Sweden showed what could be done with a physical team, the Matildas can match them physically if they selected the right players, dont think they have even enough of the right players in the squad.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Well done ladies!!! Go Australia!
Paul
Guest
Well, great first half,very poor second. Should have won 4-0 instead of 2-1. Best players were Catley, Simon, Polkinghorn. Carpenter was fantastic except it was her poor pass that led to the NZ goal. I’m not a fan of Lydia Williams and would prefer Tesgan Micah. Also, love Raso but her touch in the last few games has been exaggerated. She just rushes her passes. Let’s see if we can improve (significantly) against Sweden. Go Matilda’s ????????
Micko
Roar Rookie
"early"???? :silly:
NoMates
Roar Rookie
If the ref didn’t blow the whistle early NZ would have got another goal.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
The good: Ellie Carpenter, Yallops first goal, the result. The bad: Polks (slow as a wet week), Williams, the subs. The ugly: the ball watching in that last goal.
Tony Harper
Editor
Great job Marissa, see you for game 2
Nick Amies
Roar Rookie
Gotta be Sammy, 1 goal 1 assist and always threatening! Yallop, Carpenter and Catley well up there too
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
A quick turnaround means we’ll be back in action on Saturday night against the Swedes. Although we drew with them 0-0 in a June friendly, don’t expect the same result this time around! Until then, I’ve been Marissa Lordanic, thanks so much for making my live blog debut a heap of fun!
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
FT Australia 2 New Zealand 1! It's a win for the Matildas. Goals to Tameka Yallop and Sam Kerr in the first half set up the win with Gabi Rennie scoring one late for the Kiwis. It's a crucial three points for Australia and an important win for the morale of the team and the fans. A few more goals would have provided a nice cushion heading into two big games but it's onwards and upwards. Who was your player of the match?
Nick Amies
Roar Rookie
Nervous finish! Ellie Carpenter still bombing forward in the 92nd minute too, what a machine.
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
Very keen to check out the highlights once this game is done!
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
90+1' AUS 2 NZL 1 GOOAL NEW ZEALAND. Gabi Rennie with the header to peg one back for the Football Ferns
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
And another great story, an Olympic debut for Emily Gielnik who is on for Caitlin Foord as we enter injury time
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
88' AUS 2 NZL 0 A fair few positives to take out of this one, plus some really great stories. Aivi Luik, at 36 years old, has made her Olympic debut, two years after making her World Cup debut. She's proof age is just a number. Cooney-Cross and Fowler have also made their debuts with Fowler now country tied to Australia. She was also eligible for Ireland. Steph Catley has also run out a full game. Injury interrupted her season with Arsenal and she had been playing only halves of football in the lead up so seeing her fit is a sight for sore eyes.
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
83' AUS SUBSTITUTE Alanna Kennedy is on for Hayley Raso who was solid on the wing! Kennedy's introduction should alter the formation a bit.
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
Hopefully she's off soon, would love to see Emily Gielnik get a run in these final minutes
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Why is Kerr still in the field?