The Matildas will be looking to bounce back from their unlikely 2-3 loss against Chile when the two nations meet again in Newcastle on Tuesday at 7:30pm AEST. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
The loss was a major surprise for the Matildas, who went into the game the sixth ranked team in the world taking on the 39th.
“Surprise” might actually be an understatement. Chile were the rank underdogs in this game and – despite them qualifying for the 2019 World Cup – they were probably expecting a cricket score.
Much of game 1 played out as it should. The Australians had 18 shots to eight (six on target to four) and 60 per cent possession.
But it was on the ball where the Matildas faltered. Chile picked off two of their three goals from shocking defensive errors – awry back-passes – while their second goal was contrived after Australia failed to clear their lines from a free kick.
All three goals were avoidable, and the Matildas will be smarting from each of them.
Coach Alan Stajcic is an unapologetic zealot of the “Australian curriculum”, and there was no contrition in his comments after the game about his team’s errors.
Stajcic will always look to play out from the back – but behind closed doors he will be demanding more conscientiousness from his back four. As his team prepares for the 2019 World Cup, they must cut out those mistakes and be crisper on the ball.
But lightning rarely strikes twice (or four times in this case), and the Matildas class – especially up front with Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord – should stand out in game 2; just as it did in the passing combinations that lead to the two Australian goals (two penalties after hack-downs in the box).
The Matildas are a unit with immense pride that have been together a long time, and they will be bitterly disappointed to have dropped game 1. In fact, we should see a Matildas hungry for retribution.
Prediction
Game 1 was probably an aberration that wasn’t indicative of the class in the Matildas side. Kerr, Foord and De Vanna are in a different class to their Chilean counterparts, and after game 1 they will be eager to prove it to the football world. Game 1 should be reversed here, and potentially by a long margin.
Matildas 3 – Chile 0
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"Some managers quote Shakespeare, Gandhi or Mandela to inspire their players. Chile’s manager Jose Letelier must have quoted George W Bush"....absolute gold Lucas!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT: The Matildas take this game in a canter in the end winning 5-0, after Chile lost their gameplan after half time. Some managers quote Shakespeare, Gandhi or Mandela to inspire their players. Chile's manager Jose Letelier must have quoted George W Bush. They completely fell apart in the second half - their low block turning into a rabble and allowed Caitlyn Foord and Sam Kerr to run riot in 2 on 2s (or 3s at best). Caitlyn Foord was the best player on the pitch by a mile - scoring 3 of the 5 and playing in Kerr for the first goal. All night she was given the space to collect from deep and run at the Chileans, but in the second half with fewer defenders in front of her she run rings around what remained of the Chilean defence. Chile, to their credit, had chances at the other end. They weren't gilt edged but they did cut into the Matildas back 4 at times, but were let down by weak shots or imperfect cut backs. Sadly - for purists - after what promised to be a tight contest ended in humiliation for Chile; while pleasingly for Australians the Matildas showed they had another gear they can click into when they move the ball quickly and get their superstars Foord and Kerr on the ball in space. PLAYER OF THE MATCH was Foord. The pronunciation of her surname did her a disservice tonight, as she was a Rolls Royce among third hand sedans. Her touch and control, to go with her passing range and ability to find space between the lines, eventually wore the Chileans down. Foord was the best player of a pretty even first half, but went supernova in the second. With Foord and Kerr up front the Matildas are a force to reckon with.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
It was a full blown destruction in the second half, where Chile finally realised their 39th ranking. The possession stats didn't change much (55% for the Matildas), but 16 shots with 9 on target tells a different tale. The Matildas were extraordinary in this second half: fitter, stronger, and setting a dangerous standard for the opponents in next year's World Cup.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
What a game, Go Matildas
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME. Matildas knock off Chile 5-0 after an imperious second half where Chile completely fell apart.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
92' - Awful challenge from Chile on Chidiac who is hacked down..... that was a clear professional foul to everyone EXCEPT the referee, who needs to see blood to pay a free kick tonight.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
3 STOPPAGE TIME minutes have been added... about 2 minutes ago among the tumult of the last couple of minutes.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
92' - and a shot from Chile, and Sanhueza is through but she puts her shot wide of the far post! That also should have gone in!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Among all that Kennedy has come OFF for Alleway
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90' - SAVED! DOUBLE SAVE! TRIPLE SAVE! It's FULL ON! Foord forces the first low down, and then Butt gets a go at the rebound and the third is a soft header that lets Chile settle down a little. Foord nearly (should have) had her fourth!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
89' - FOORD ANOTHER! That's her hattrick! Van Egmond's long shift finds Carpenter (who's now on the left) and she cuts it back through a sea of players to find Foord at the back post. She needs only to poke it past the keeper. Foord has earned this hattrick
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
85' - and well, Foord is lucky not to get a card for another SUPER LATE challenge. She jumped in like a pair of scissors and hacked down her opponent. No cards for that. This referee really has a high bar for challenges.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Ibini is ON for KK as well.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Kerr is coming OFF. She's had a good second half. Heyman comes ON
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
84' - CLEARED by Kellond-Knight. A good string of passes from Chile on the right looks promising before KK puts her boot into it inside the box.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
82' - YELLOW CARD for Kennedy. It's an appalling challenge. Kennedy jumped into that tackle, that she was a million years late for, like a friendly that you're exhausted in in the 80th minute.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
79' - And Chile have another great chance that doesn't hit the net. New girl Santibanez makes a run into the box on the right but her shot is wide of the far post. That was a good chance for someone with fresh legs.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
79' - Chile have a disallowed goal here. It's an easy offside call, despite the ball finding the back of the net.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Curriculum update: how to beat the low block... wait for your semi professional opponents to tire badly and then overpower them.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Chile have made some SUBSTITUTIONS as well in the last few minutes while the action was thick and fast. Forwards Aedo and Zamora have come OFF, as has Leyton. ON is Huenteo, Sanhueza, and Santibanez