Matildas strike gold with late comeback victory
After a win, a draw and a loss in their opening three games across Perth and Bunbury, the Matildas overcame another battling effort from their central American opponents to ride out a roller-coaster game with a win in front of 10,657 fans.
Ericka Arauz's wonderful effort gave Panama a first-half lead, but lightning struck twice after the break as Michelle Heyman twice connected with Hayley Raso crosses to give Australia the lead.
A Lineth Cenedo thunderbolt eight minutes from time threatened to spoil the party, but Charli Grant bundled home an even-later winner to ensure Joe Montemurro's first international window in charge ended on a positive note. Charlotte Grant of Australia celebrates a goal with Courtney Nevin. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images
For the coach and his players, attention will shift to their two further windows later in the year, before next year's Women's Asian Cup will kick off in Perth on March 1.
Montemurro's experimentation continued, with a depleted Australian side making eight changes to the team which fell 1-0 to Panama in Bunbury on Saturday.
While Heyman almost grabbed the headlines with a brace, Raso continued her strong return post-injury, with the winger a constant menace down the right wing.
Buoyed by their win over the Matildas in Bunbury, Panama applied the same physical approach that brought them success in the previous fixture. Charlotte Grant of Australia celebrates a goal. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images
Referee Yoshimi Yamashita had her hands full early as several Australian corners produced a tangle of bodies, with Amy Sayer unlucky not to win a penalty after appearing to be wrestled to the ground.
Facing a fresh midfield pivot of Emily van Egmond and Amy Sayer, Panama were able to press high up the middle of the ground and funnel the ball into dead ends down the sidelines.
While the Matildas struggled to control tempo and fight their way through outside of broken passages of play, the composure of Marta Cox and guile of Riley Tanner provided Panama's best outlets.
Raso was the Matildas' most dangerous option and almost scored a superb goal in the 24th minute after Sayer's sumptuous flick released her. Ericka Araúz of Panama celebrates her goal. Credit: James Worsfold / Getty Images
The winger stormed into the box after running a quarter of the pitch, but her goal-bound effort was foiled by glove and post, before Remy Siemsen's follow-up was pushed away and van Egmond's long-range effort similarly dealt with by goalkeeper Farissa Cordoba.
And Panama made Australia pay 10 minutes later when Jessika Nash, already guilty of one turnover which led to a shot on goal, dwelled on the ball under pressure and waylaid a pass to van Egmond.
Aruaz took advantage and won the ball before unleashing a dipping strike from distance, which left Chloe Lincoln with little chance.
Australia continued to focus their attentions on the right hand channel, with Raso's cut-back ending in Charli Grant lofting over before Siemsen could not make connection with a Grant low cross in stoppage time.
Nine minutes after the restart, the Matildas levelled when Holly McNamara picked up a loose ball and fed Raso, who in turn teed up Heyman for a simple finish. Michelle Heyman of the Matildas celebrates a goal Credit: Janelle St Pierre / Getty Images
Heyman almost connected with Courtney Nevin's teasing cross in the 64th minute, but a minute later she grabbed her second as she met Raso's perfect outswinging cross and redirected it into the corner of the net.
The toll of the game looked like it was starting to wear on Panama, but they got their second wind late as Lincoln did well to deny Tanner from range, before Nash saved the day by shuttling Cedeno's effort wide on the goal-line.
But gaps in the Matildas' midfield began to appear late, and as Panama streamed forward in the 82nd minute, Cox rolled the ball into Cedeno's path for the winger to lash home.
Just when the game looked set for a draw, the two full-backs combined as Nevin's whipped cross was met by Grant's last-ditch effort to seal victory.
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