By Kieran Yap 9/6/26
Above: Caitlin Foord (left) and Sam Kerr. Photo: Football Australia.
Some fortuitous goals and an improved second half have given The Matildas a 3-1 win over Mexico in the second game of this international window. Goals to Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord in her 150th appearance secured the result in Sydney.
Australia coach Joe Montemurro named a slightly altered side to try and improve on Saturday’s loss. In that game, The Matildas were apprehensive in midfield and predictable in attack. Clare Wheeler started in an effort to inject some pace and mobility to the midfield, while Hayley Raso started on the right flank.
The first half could be politely described as chaotic. If there was a plan, neither side looked sure of it. But Australia opened the scoring when Kennedy’s close range, scuffed effort on the turn deflected off a defender and into the net.
The elation was short lived though. Mexico equalized through Diana Ordoñez just four minute later. Australia’s attempt to play out from deep in defence backfired, Mexico created the turnover and made the home side pay.
The Matildas looked at their best when they played at pace and especially when Ellie Carpenter was given room to run. Ideally more of the Australian game plan should revolve around the Chelsea fullback. When she gets into the final third she can be damaging and when she is on her way there, she can be hard to stop.
Carpenter’s burst forward and cross helped give Australia the lead again. Kerr’s technique and a slice of luck did the rest. Her low volley crashed against the post, but bounced back off Mexican goalkeeper Esthefanny Barreras and over the line.
Things settled in the second half and Australia found their groove. The midfield looked more fluid, Wheeler began to control the game and when Australia attacked, they did so with purpose.
Caitlin Foord’s goal was The Matildas at their best. Kaitlyn Torpey exploded through midfield and played the harder pass between two defenders as Foord ran in from the outside. Her shirt was visibly pulled and she momentarily appealed for a penalty, but in the end took care of the issue herself by cutting back inside and beating the goalkeeper.
That ended the scoring, but not the action. Leticia McKenna, Holly McNamara, Alana Murphy and Jamilla Rankin entered the field. Minutes were limited. But they took their chances to show why many fans are clamoring for them to have more.
McNamara looked dangerous with the ball at her feet, and looks more comfortable with each international cap. This was one of the first times we have seen her run at defenders like she does in the A-League Women.
Murphy and McKenna looked at home in the midfield and both looked to move the ball forward at every opportunity. They did enough to hopefully apply some pressure for midfield spots. Ideally, at 3-1 up, the national team could have benefitted from giving these players more minutes, more time to make mistakes, recover from them and to show what they can really do.
Charlize Rule also made what is becoming a routine appearance in the Green and Gold, and she is starting to look like an ideal option at centre back. Rule is tall, fast, strong in the air, and can play a confident pass.
The most crucial player for The Matildas in this game was Wheeler. The Everton star always wants the ball, and seems to know where she is playing it before it reaches her. Wheeler passes, then immediately moves to receive. It sounds simple, but it was missing in the first game of this window. She opens up space for her teammates, in particular Kennedy who was able to charge forward on a few occasions. Wheeler is also able to do the gritty defensive work and covers ground in a similar style to Aivi Luik at her peak.
Clare Wheeler is simply everywhere you need her to be, and made a huge difference for Australia in this game. The fact that she is rarely seen as the first option remains a frustrating mystery to many Matildas fans. Surely she needs to start no matter who else makes up that midfield.
This is the last window for around four months, and the 2027 World Cup is approaching fast. There is a lot of work to be done, and plenty of improvement needed. But this was a win and a much better second half performance.
TEAMS: AUSTRALIA (4-3-3): Arnold, Carpenter, Heatley, Catley, Torpey, Kennedy, Wheeler, Fowler, Raso, Kerr, Foord. Substitutes: Rule, McKenna, McNamara, Murphy, Siemsen, Rankin, Melegh, Nevin, van Egmond, Sayer, Gomez.
Goals: Kennedy 22′ Kerr 36′ Caitlin Foord 70′
MEXICO (4-2-3-1): Barreras, Hernandez, Rodriguez, Espinoza, Reyes, R Bernal, Delgado, Saldivar, Nieto, Casarez, Ordoñez. Substitutes: Robles, Soto, Palacios, Corral, Sanchez, Servin, Felix, Velasco, K Bernal, Antonio, Nicosia, Guitierrez.
Goals: Ordoñez 26’
Referee: TBC
Attendance: 18441
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Clare Wheeler is the most underrated player on the Matildas squad. She just keeps getting better and better.
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