Tag: Cup of Nations

The visitors unleash the first shot of the half after Australia fail to clear the ball from near the top of their own box.

Jenni Hermoso had the open of sending through Redondo Ferrer down the left, who was completely free, but instead shoots herself – right into the chest of Mackenzie Arnold, who has been excellent so far this game.

The Matilda is currently recovering from a foot injury, after spending most of the past 18 months on the sideline with an ACL tear.

In the meantime, though, Logarzo has been really leaning into advocacy work, particularly working with the LGBTQIA+ community (of which she is part) on various causes.

That includes being named one of a handful of 2023 Sydney WorldPride Rainbow Champions: ambassadors for the event who have been working in their own spaces to progress inclusion and diversity.

Chloe will also make an appearance at the finals of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association World Championships, which kicks off tomorrow in Sydney, to present the trophies and medals!

Congrats, Chloe.

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That was, without doubt, one of the best halves of football the Matildas have played under Tony Gustavsson.

Almost from the opening whistle, they were intense, organised, and direct in their attacking moves. They know exactly where Spain’s weak-points are, and have been pressing and pushing and prodding them all half.

Spain have had a handful of decent chances, though, mostly coming from delightful little through-balls that carved open Australia’s back-line. You have to wonder whether a more experienced starting line-up would have made that opening 45 a much more even contest.

What did you think of that, beloved blog-watchers? Is that the kind of half you were expecting from the Tillies? What do you think the second 45 has in store for us?

Comment below!

The Manchester City winger is clutching her wrist and looks to be in some pain after tumbling to the grass.

The fourth official adds three minutes of extra time as Raso is helped off the pitch, with what looks like strapping being wrapped around it tightly.

Let’s hope it’s not as bad as it looks on the big screen!

Direct, precise, lethal football from the Matildas.

Foord picks up the ball in midfield and spins, knowing Kerr is racing off the shoulder of the last defender.

The Arsenal winger clips a perfect ball into Kerr’s path as the Chelsea striker takes a steadying touch and fires…

…but it just fizzes wide of the far post.

And it goes to the goal-scorer Caitlin Foord for accidentally elbowing Codina Panedas.

Caitlin Foord marks her return with an easy header off a perfect Steph Catley free-kick.

Spain have only got themselves to blame here: not only did their players give away the set-piece totally unnecessarily, bundling Hayley Raso to the ground when she was off the ball, but they didn’t even watch Foord ghosting into the six-yard box as Catley’s cross sailed towards her.

3-0.

A bullet Sam Kerr header almost rips the back of the net clean off, but the linesperson raises their flag to bring an abrupt end to the crowd’s wave of screams.

The replay shows Kerr’s shoulders leaning juuust over the line carved into the grass, so technically she’s right, but, like, spiritually? Say it with me: Kerr was robbed.

The right-back was in a bit of a pickle, getting boxed-in near her own corner-flag and having the ball stolen by Jenni Hermoso.

The Spanish striker shapes to cross before feinting back inside, with Grant swinging a wild leg to try and intercept, with the ball spinning off upfield.

The referee signals a throw-in… for Australia.

Lol.

It’s pretty warm here in Parramatta, so each half will have a drinks break.

The players have got ice towels around their necks as Tony Gustavsson is gesturing wildly and giving quick tips to his players.

Their energy has dropped off somewhat in the last five minutes, so let’s see what the next ‘quarter’ of football brings.

A Football Australia representative just confirmed to us that customisable jerseys will be available on their online store from tomorrow!

Get in quick, because they’re reaching the end of their current cycle before their 2023 Women’s World Cup jerseys are released.

It’s been a wild opening 20 minutes to this game, with both sides playing a really energetic, pro-active style of possession football.

The Spanish side look a little shell-shocked, but they’ve shown some glimpses of danger every now and then.

The Matildas need to keep their concentration and ensure they don’t let this intensity drop.

Some nice one-touch passing slices through Australia’s defensive third and finds a Spanish player all alone near the penalty spot. Her shot looks for all money like it’s flying into the net, but Steph Catley sticks out a strong left boot and sends it spinning out for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Phew!

CLARE POLKINGHORNE!

Now you don’t see this every day: that’s two goals in two games for Australia’s all-time leading appearance-maker.

Spain fail to deal with a corner properly, with the ball being recycled immediately by the Matildas before it finds Raso stationed out on the left.

She clips in a lovely cross to the box, with the deflected Sam Kerr header being bundled around by a Spanish defender.

Polkinghorne bodies her off inside the six-yard box and slams it into the top left corner.

2-0!

Hayley Raso has been an absolute menace down the right wing so far, regularly getting the best of Spain’s young left-back.

Another cut-and-cross deflects off a red sock and flies out for the first corner of the match.