Stunning Australia win over England shows Matildas’ strength

LONDON — In supervisor Sarina Wiegman’s thirty first sport in command of England, the Lionesses suffered their first defeat of her tenure after the Matildas scored a aim in every half on a wet Tuesday in West London. The 2-0 loss to Australia additionally marked the primary time England had conceded greater than a single aim in a match below Wiegman.

The Matildas went forward when Aussie striker Sam Kerr chased down a weak header from England captain Leah Williamson, with Kerr nipping in forward of Mary Earps to chip the onrushing goalkeeper. Williamson was concerned once more after the break, this time diverting a thumping header from Matildas defender Charlotte Grant the mistaken aspect of Earps.

Tuesday’s match fell on the 100-day mark earlier than the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins in Australia and New Zealand.

Rapid response

1. With Matildas’ confidence increase, are they now World Cup favourites?

With the Matildas co-hosting the 2023 World Cup, all eyes shall be on the workforce to placed on a present at house and stay as much as the potential they have been teasing for the previous couple of tournaments.

The loss the Matildas suffered days in the past to Scotland might have put a dampener on their journey to London, however beating the reigning Euro champions, England, on their opponents’ house soil shall be nothing however confidence boosting for Australia forward of a landmark summer season. Australia put an finish to England’s 30-game unbeaten run, and shut out a Lionesses aspect that has averaged a surprising 4.6 targets since Wiegman took over.

For Matildas supervisor Tony Gustavsson and his gamers, there’s nonetheless loads of work to be accomplished, and ongoing harm worries weren’t helped by the guests dropping utility girl Tameka Yallop through the first half and attacker Courtnee Vine within the second.

Yet in beating England, particularly with key personnel out, the Matildas have proven they’ll go toe-to-toe with any opposition and discover a manner by. Although nobody within the Matildas camp shall be counting any chickens tonight, they are going to be returning house with a large confidence increase.

2. Lionesses’ streak involves an sudden finish

On a tear below Wiegman, the Lionesses had solely gone from strength to strength on the pitch, profitable the 2021 Euros decisively and placing groups on discover with massive pleasant wins over the likes of the United States. Although having wobbled slightly alongside the best way, the Lionesses below Wiegman all the time appeared to discover a manner.

Yet, on a wet evening in Brentford, the Lionesses appeared a shadow of themselves, struggling in defence with out each first selection centre-back Millie Bright and back-up Alex Greenwood.

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But it wasn’t simply on the again on the soccer stuttered for England: the assault struggled for fluency all through and it doesn’t matter what the coach did to attempt to revitalise her workforce, the mixtures didn’t stay as much as the billing.

Heading into the World Cup, it was all the time going to be key for England to be examined and despite the fact that they have been dealing with an under-strength Australia workforce, really struggling a loss below Wiegman is the sort expertise the Lionesses have been missing and the query shall be how they reply to their unbeaten streak being snapped.

3. Stars paved the way for the Matildas

With auxiliary gamers like Hayley Raso and Mary Fowler, who began each video games this month, trying rusty attributable to restricted minutes at Manchester City, the Matildas usually rely much more on the celebs like Sam Kerr to step up. And step up the captain did, scoring the opening aim in London and appearing as a one-woman assault or many of the first half.

With Kerr absent of their 1-0 loss to Scotland and a pure aim getter, she took to the pitch in Brentford like a coiled spring. Leading from the entrance with the armband firmly wrapped round her proper bicep, Kerr remained a persistent menace for the guests all through, and reminded followers and teammates alike that even with the lacking 4 starters throughout the pitch, she would all the time be out there to drive them on in assault.

Whilst there was a reliability to the favoured midfield of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry that helped hold the workforce secure, it was Kerr and right-back Ellie Carpenter, who began for the Matildas. Kerr was dependable in assault and Carpenter was tenacious in defence to snuff out a few of the extra dangerous-looking England assaults.

Best and worst performers

Best: Sam Kerr, Australia

Not simply the aim scorer for the Matildas however the driving drive in assault for the workforce all sport.

Best: Ellie Carpenter, Australia

Diligent in her work at full-back to quash England’s finest possibilities on the left. Although solely just lately again from an ACL layoff, the defender already appears to be like again to her finest.

Best: Georgia Stanway, England

Although it clearly wasn’t England’s evening, the midfielder remained a constructive affect going ahead for the hosts.

Worst: Leah Williamson, England

England’s dependable captain was left searching of types with unfamiliar centre-back associate Esme Morgan and she or he ended up having an evening to neglect.

Worst: Hayley Raso, Australia

Despite working her socks off all evening, Raso confirmed clear indicators of rust.

Worst: Chloe Kelly, England

Coming into the sport in plumb kind, the attacker was simply one other participant caught in a entrance line that struggled all evening.

Highlights and notable moments

England defender Leah Williamson thought she was guiding the ball to the secure palms of goalkeeper Mary Earps within the thirty second minute. But as a substitute she simply put the ball on a platter for Australia striker Samantha Kerr, which you by no means wish to do (until you are on Kerr’s workforce).

A defender’s worst nightmare 👻@samkerr1‘s aim sees us take a 1-0 lead heading into the break!

🎥: @10FootballAU #WeAreMatildas #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/EykL5SUXHx

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) April 11, 2023

The Matildas, nonetheless, proved it wasn’t merely a fluke, scoring once more within the 67th minute, this time from Charlotte Grant.

Charli’s first aim? Granted! ☝️

🎥: @10FootballAU #WeAreMatildas #ENGvAUS | @_charli_grant pic.twitter.com/ucta4DazvA

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) April 11, 2023

After the match: What the managers and gamers stated

England coach Sarina Wiegman on her first loss as England coach: “It doesn’t feel great — a big learning game against a very physical, well-organised, aggressive, good-defending Australia team. We had a lot of possession but we struggled to speed up the game, go forward and stretch them. We didn’t do that great. We made some mistakes, their counter-attack was very dangerous. Their first goal was a mistake from us, which can happen. We started the second half pretty good — but they had a counter attack and scored, that made it hard for us. We play against some opponents who drop deeper so we have to play, we have to find solutions to create more to score goals.”

Wiegman on whether or not this halts momentum earlier than the Women’s World Cup in July: “I’m not worried. I don’t worry very quickly. We know we have to be at the top level and that’s when we go into the World Cup too. Against Brazil we got some warnings, and in the end we won. Against Czech Republic — we had to create a little more too, we got warnings there. We know where we want to go to — it’s building, momentum — this is just a big learning moment for us.”

Matildas supervisor Tony Gustavsson on whether or not the win adjustments his mindset earlier than the World Cup: “It hasn’t changed my mindset at all — it’s part of a longer process. We started this more than two years ago — a similar situation in ’21, lost to Germany and Holland. We have spent two years investing in depth in this roster. We might not have the biggest resources, or the players in the big teams, but we have heart and commitment. I’ve always believed in this team and I’m so proud to be part of it. It’s important we don’t get carried away now, we need to stay humble. We need to stay in the boring grey area.”

Australia striker Sam Kerr on a giant consequence in opposition to a favorite: “It’s obviously a big performance — beating England tonight doesn’t win us anything. I wouldn’t be here if it did, I’d be out celebrating. We’ve had some up and down performances over the last couple of months so to finish up like that is nice. It’s a big performance for us a team and some played well as a team too.”

Kerr on what the consequence does again in Australia: “It does a lot for back home. England is a big footballing nation — when people see the Matildas win, it’s big news. It’s a big win, but we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We have to play with the pressures of the home crowd. But it’s a good win for the team and fans.”

Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Information analysis)

• Today marks 100 days earlier than the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins.

• The loss is the primary for England since Sarina Wiegman took over as coach in September 2021. The Lionesses had gone 30 consecutive video games unbeaten.

• Sam Kerr: She scores in her third straight match for Australia, and it is her second match with a aim and an help in her final three video games performed for the Matildas.

• Kerr has 18 aim contributions for Australia because the begin of 2022, together with 7 (5g, 2a) in an Asian Cup group match vs. Indonesia (18-0 win).

Up subsequent

England: The subsequent match on the Lionesses’ calendar is the opener of their Women’s World Cup on July 22 in opposition to Haiti.

Australia: The Matildas have a closing send-off match earlier than the 2023 Women’s World Cup on July 14 once they face France in a pleasant. Then, Australia’s World Cup begins on July 20 in opposition to Ireland.