Philippines 0-8 Australia
by Kelechi Osunwa at Optus Stadium, Perth for Impetus (29/10/23).
Above: There was so much for The Matildas to celebrate today in Perth against the Philippines. Photo: Football Australia.
A sell-out crowd of 59,155, higher than any for an Australian women’s game outside of the Olympics or World Cup, witnessed a relentless display by The Matildas who run out 8-0 winners over the Philippines and all but confirmed qualification into the next round of 2024 AFC Women’s Olympic qualifiers.
It was sensational display by Australia with hometown hero Sam Kerr claiming a hattrick, as did Caitlin Foord, in between goals by Mary Fowler and substitute Clare Wheeler on the path to an 8-0 win and a stunning five-goal first-half display.
The Matildas displayed moments of almost telepathic understanding with their movement and passing and their first goal was a showcase of how devastating the Australian attack can be.
Kennedy found Raso with a switch of play which the Real Madrid forward laid off to Kerr, who’s clever through-ball split the Filipinas defence finding an overlapping Ellie Carpenter. Foord attempted to hook in Carpenter’s cross but her effort fell to the path of Mary Fowler who finished with aplomb as her effort kissed the inside of the post before nestling home.
The roar from the near 60,000 crowd was deafening, but the decibel meter would get even higher four minutes later when Kerr got in on the goal-scoring action thanks to the tireless efforts of Foord. The busy Arsenal star received the ball on the wing and exploded past two defenders as she drove into the box, before keeping her composure and finding Kerr for the simplest of finishes.
The Matildas’ WSL contingent combined with Fowler, Kerr, and Foord all involved to make it 3-0 with Kerr and Foord reversing their roles as provider and finisher. Fowler sent in a delightful cross for Kerr, who was draped by Filipinas defender but managed to find Foord to slot home.
Foord got her second and the Matildas’ fourth with a finish that showcased her strength and composure to hold off a defender and slot home past Olivia McDaniel. The two goals in three minutes were her 31st and 32nd for the Matildas and Foord almost had her 33rd three minutes later, but her audacious effort from a tight angle glanced off the crossbar.
Coach Gustavsson challenged his side to improve their ball retention after losing possession and he would have been pleased with the intensity and relentlessness of their pressing in the first half with the Filipinas almost camped entirely in their half for the duration as Australia boasted 73% of possession.
The Matildas capped off a five-star half when the dynamic duo of Foord and Kerr combined in stoppage time. Foord skipped past her marker before threading an inch-perfect pass to break the Philippines’ offside trap.
Kerr streaked through on goal with the freedom of Optus Stadium, raising the anticipation of the home faithful and sending them into dreamland when she blasted into the roof of the net. The goal capped a relentless first-half display of passing, pressing, and clinical finishing.
The Matildas’ relentlessness continued in the second half with Kerr only needing 24 seconds to finish her hat-trick when she latched onto the end of another delightful cross by Fowler to head home and make it 6-0. Her performance today was a timely reminder of just how good the perennial Ballon d’Or Féminin finalist is at the art of finishing.
Foord joined Kerr as a recipient of a match ball when she completed her hattrick in stunning fashion. The striker collected the ball in the Filipinas box after a failed clearance and danced past her maker before pummelling an effort from a tight angle to surpass Sarah Walsh to be clear as the fifth-highest goal scorer in Matildas history and give her side a 7-0 lead.
Sarina Bolden failed to take advantage of rare lapse in concentration at the back when Clare Hunt was robbed of possession. The former Western Sydney Wanderers striker, moving through on goal with support in-field, attempted to lob Mackenzie Arnold but could not find enough lift to challenge the Matildas custodian.
The quality didn’t dip even after a rare quadruple substitution with Clare Wheeler getting in on the action. The diminutive midfielder lashed in a driven effort from the edge of the box for her first international goal. The Everton star’s goal came off the back of another assist by Foord, giving her a rare hattrick of goals and four assists.
It finished 8-0 for the Matildas and confirmed an equalled record loss for the Philippines who will be needing a dominant display against Iran in their final game on Wednesday to stand any chance of qualifying.
For the Matildas, it means they will need something extraordinary to happen to fail in qualifying for the next round, and for the Australian public, it underscores how much the game has grown in Australia. 7,549 attended the Matildas’ 5-0 win over Thailand in 2018 and the record 59,195 in attendance today emphasises the drawing power of this team.
Still to come – two photo galleries from the game – Impetus had Rob Lizzi and Kris Goman pitch side at Optus Stadium to capture the best of the action.
Teams: PHILIPPINES (4-1-4-1): O. McDaniel, Randle, Long, Cowart, Beard, Bonta, Quezada, Eggesvik, Sawicki, Guillou, Bolden. Substitutes: Annis, C. McDaniel, Flanigan, Miclat, Serrano, Pasion, Barker, Palacios, Madarang, Fontanilla.
AUSTRALIA (4-4-2): Arnold, Catley, Kennedy, Hunt, Carpenter, Cooney-Cross, Gorry, Fowler, Raso, Kerr, Foord. Substitutes: Williams, Nevin, Polkinghorne, Vine, Wheeler, Chidiac, Van-Egmond, Micah, Yallop, Sayer, Grant.
Scorers: Fowler 15’, Foord 30’ 33’ 56’, Kerr 19’ 45+2’ 46’, Wheeler 72’
Referee: Ranjita Tekcham.
Attendance: 59,195.
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