Australia 1-2 Canada
by Ben Gilby (13/7/24)
Above: Sharn Freier (right, light blue shirt) celebrates her goal for Australia with Mary Fowler. Photo: Football Australia.
A goal from Evelyn Viens with less than five minutes remaining ensured that Canada came from 1-0 down to defeat Australia in a ‘B’ international behind closed doors at the Marbella Football Centre in Northern Spain.
It was not a vintage performance from The Matildas, but they did have more injury problems to deal with right before kick-off that necessitated a change to their published starting 11.
Already without Steph Catley and Kaitlyn Torpey due to leg injuries, Tony Gustavsson was forced into a late change just ahead of the start when Caitlin Foord suffered a “tight quad” muscle, and Sharn Freier stepped into the starting line-up.
Canada started on the front foot and looked to work the ball along both flanks, but they found particular success along the left. This led to the game’s first chance when Adriana Leon’s pace allowed her into the box, but her shot rolled across the left-hand post.
The Matildas were forced onto the back foot, and the battle between Leon and Ellie Carpenter along the left continued to build. Canada were allowed plenty of space to spread the play ahead of the Matildas’ penalty box.
They were looking to force Carpenter out of the game by running with pace directly at her, or bypass her completely with rapid speed passing around her, and then running into the resulting gap left behind.
With 11 minutes played, Leon used the space in front of her well to gallop forward and fire in a rocket of a shot that Mackenzie Arnold pushed out for a corner.
Cortnee Vine was being used in a more central position up front and was starved of possession as a result of the lack of offensive play that the Matildas were having due to the rapid press of the Canadians and Australia’s struggles to solve the puzzle to escape from their own half.
As the game approached the 20-minute mark, the left-hand side was strengthened with Alanna Kennedy coming across to cover in behind Carpenter when necessary. This allowed Gustavsson’s side to gradually get more of the ball and for the first time, begin to bring Katrina Gorry into the play.
The benefits of finally beginning to get some foothold in midfield reaped rewards with 24 minutes played. Fowler danced her way along the right and left Jessie Fleming for dead before advancing between two defenders to lay off for Freier to beat Jade Rose and fire into the right-hand corner of the net.
Kyra Cooney-Cross then developed a move with Fowler to find Clare Wheeler, who was a reassuring presence at the back and also dangerous coming forward. Gorry and Cooney-Cross’ increasing amount of possession was allowing Carpenter to use her skills coming forward and bring Fowler into the game more.
However, whilst there was more offensive success for The Matildas in this period of the game, they were still struggling to clear their lines at the back. Canada’s high press was causing all sorts of problems and Australia could only rarely get beyond the first line of red shirts when not winning the ball further upfield in transitions.
The warning signs flashed again with the ever-dangerous Leon sending another powerful drive goalwards with five minutes of the half remaining, which Arnold pushed out.
Just 60 seconds later, Arsenal star Cloe Lacasse gained possession along the left and hit a cross in that bounced in front of Arnold, allowing Nichelle Prince to fire home from close range.
There was one half chance for Australia just before the interval when Freier got along the left and played in Wheeler who hit an effort wide of the right-hand post.
At the half-time discussions, the focus would need to be on how Australia could beat the high Canada press and therefore allow a greater amount of possession through the midfield, as, on the occasions they had it in the opening 45, The Matildas had some success.
There was clearly a difference in the opening period of the second half as Australia defended with a much higher line and press, which forced Canada to play from much further back and screen off much of the penalty area.
It was largely an arm wrestle until the closing 10 minutes. Up until then, Canada had a few half chances as Leon escaped up the flank to find Lawrence who in turn fed Jordyn Huitema to hit a shot that deflected off of Clare Polkinghorne and out for a corner. The flag kick came in from the right, Vanessa Gilles got a header across for Huitema, but her own header went wide.
Whilst Australia were more organised at the back and benefitting from the better structure it offered, offensively they were largely anonymous in the second 45, with substitutes Michelle Heyman and Emily van Egmond struggling to get any possession.
One player that continued to stand out for The Matildas was Freier. She took on Jade Rose along the left in a brilliant battle, held her off, and managed to get a low cross in to emphasise her work rate.
As the game entered its final 10 minutes, Canada stepped up the pace, and the Matildas began to look less sure-footed at the back. They were forcing the pass and a warning sign flashed when Huitema benefitted from loose Australian play to hit a long-range effort just wide of the left-hand post.
With six minutes to go, substitute Deanne Rose was played through and got a low cross in from the right which Arnold had to deflect out for a corner.
Moments later, the defending Olympic champions struck. Possession was lost in defence by the Matildas and Gabrielle Carle found Evelyn Viens just inside the box to fire a shot into the corner of the net.
Australia found it hard to mount any kind of reply – the closest they came was three minutes into stoppage time when Fowler showed great close control to enter the box before being tackled by Shelina Zadorsky. There were some shouts for a penalty, but referee Abraham Dominguez Cervantes never seriously considered them.
Canada held on to run-out winners, which they deserved on the balance of attacking play.
There is no need to panic or be concerned. It is to be remembered that this was a ‘B’ international – there were no caps on offer, and officially this is nothing more than a behind-closed-doors training match that would usually be played without TV cameras or media attention.
Anyone remember the far-from-inspiring final game that Australia played against Japan before the Tokyo Olympics? The team went on from there to put in some superb performances once the real stuff got underway.
A number of Canada’s team are fresh from regular NWSL football, The Matildas are coming off European or A-League Women off-season. The real business is 12 days ahead when they battle Germany in the Olympic opener. That is the time for real judgement.
There is scope for big improvement for Australia. There is plenty of time for them to do it.
Teams: AUSTRALIA (4-4-2): Arnold, Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Gorry, Raso, Wheeler, Cooney-Cross, Fowler, Vine, Freier. Substitutes used: Heyman (for Vine 45′) Grant (for Carpenter 45′) van Egmond (for Raso 45′) Nevin (for Gorry 45′) Polkinghorne (for Kennedy 45′), Heatley (for Hunt 77′).
Scorer: Freier 24′.
CANADA (3-4-3): Sheridan, Buchanan, Gilles, J. Rose, Riviere, Awujo, Fleming, Lawrence, Lacasse, Leon, Prince. Substitutes used: Huitema (for Prince 45′), Quinn (for Awujo 57′), Beckie (for Leon 57′), Grosso (for Fleming 63′), Viens (for Lacasse 63′), D. Rose (for J. Rose 77′), Carle (for Riviere 77′), Zadorsky (for Buchanan 77′).
Scorer: Prince 41′, Viens 85′.
Referee: Abraham Dominguez Cervantes (ESP).
Attendance: Behind Closed Doors.
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