Latest news with #TheMatildas
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mary Fowler makes mockery of Sam Kerr claim as penny finally drops for Matildas
The Matildas have finally worked out the best way to utilise Mary Fowler, unlocking the young star's full potential in their win over South Korea on Monday night. And in doing so it ended an ugly trend in which the Matildas have struggled to score goals without Sam Kerr. Kerr hasn't played since January of 2024 due to an ACL injury, and the Matildas have suffered without their superstar striker. They struggled to get many meaningful shots on target - let alone score goals - in their failed campaign at the SheBelieves Cup last month. But Monday night's 2-0 win over South Korea was their most polished attacking display against top opposition in months. Fowler outmuscled four defenders to score the opening goal in the 44th minute, and then turned provider in the second half as Kaitlyn Torpey made it 2-0. It was Fowler's best performance in the green and gold for months, after the 22-year-old seemed to struggle converting her club form with Manchester City into dominant displays for the Matildas. The key difference on Monday night was interim coach Tom Sermanni finally worked out to use her on the left wing - where she does her best work for City. Fowler's goal snapped a 13-game streak for the Matildas in which she failed to score - which was more than twice as long as any other goalless run in her career. "I really like playing there. I think I see a lot of the field from there and just a lot of different angles," she said after the game. "I felt more comfortable. I felt like I could give more to the team there. "I want to try to be a bit more consistent with my performance in the national team so I think being out in that position made it a bit easier for me. Hopefully that is a step for me, on an individual level, to keep going in that right direction." Kaitlyn Torpey doubles our lead in Newcastle following a CHAOTIC goal-mouth scramble 😳🎥 @ParamountPlusAU — CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) April 7, 2025 Former Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson always copped plenty of flak for the way he utilised Fowler, often using her as a striker whenever Kerr was missing. But Monday night's tactical switch proved a masterstroke, and showed the Matildas will be a force to be reckoned with when Kerr returns to the line-up alongside Fowler. Sermanni, whose future as Matildas caretaker boss remains unclear, was full of praise for the young star. "I thought tonight was the most involved I've seen her in the game since I've been the coach," Sermanni said. "You see how valuable a player she is when she actually gets on the ball." RELATED: Sam Kerr's family confession as future as captain finally decided NRL legend's shock claim about Nathan Cleary amid Fowler rumours Meanwhile, Teagan Micah kept a second-straight clean sheet as she looks to prove she's the nation's No.1 goalkeeper. Micah has been working her way back to top form after missing the World Cup in 2023 due to injury, which opened the door for Mackenzie Arnold. But Arnold missed the games against South Korea due to an arm injury, and she appears to have slipped down the pecking order.
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Matildas lay ground for Asian Cup with vital win over South Korea
The Matildas have kicked off their 2026 Asian Cup preparations with a 1-0 win on home soil over local rivals South Korea. Australia broke the deadlock at Allianz Stadium in Sydney by way of an own goal in the 54th minute before withstanding a late South Korean challenge in front of 37,199 fans on Friday night. Their victory over the world No 19 team is their first of the year following a disastrous SheBelieves Cup campaign in February. The Matildas had left the US-based tournament without a single point and slumped to No 16 in the world, their equal-worst position in the history of the Fifa world rankings. It was also Australia's first win over South Korea since their heartbreaking Asian Cup quarter-final loss in 2022. Caitlin Foord had won the ball back in their defensive half and broke away from the pack to pass off to Emily van Egmond on the left wing. Van Egmond sent a slicing cross towards goal before Lim Seon-Joo intercepted with a header. But the deflection proved unfavourable for the visitors, with the ball crossing the line despite the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Kim Min-Jeong. Mary Fowler came on for Tameka Yallop in the 72nd minute and almost scored seven minutes later when her left-footed shot missed by centimetres. South Korea burst to life in the final 20 minutes of regulation time, with Shin Na-Yeong almost equalising with a header. But Australia's goalkeeper Teagan Micah, standing in for injured Mackenzie Arnold, held her nerve to keep the clean sheet. Foord had the best opportunity in the first half, testing keeper Kim Min-jeong in the 45th minute after a scorching run down the corridor. The powerful Arsenal forward had sent a scare through the Matildas camp, already without a raft of stars, when she went down in agony in the 20th minute. Foord had gone face-first into the back of opposition Choe Yu-ri's head. But she was able to return to the game, having only suffered a bleeding nose. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Australia had lost No 1 goalkeeper Arnold just hours before kick-off to an arm injury picked up in training. Arnold joins Ellie Carpenter (ankle), Hayley Raso (thigh), Katrina Gorry (ankle) and captain Sam Kerr (knee) on the sidelines. Gorry had withdrawn ahead of the international window while Carpenter and Raso were ruled out earlier in the week with pre-existing injuries. Kerr was flanked by the injured quartet on the sidelines at Allianz Stadium in her first Matildas camp since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in January last year. The superstar striker, who avoided being stripped of the Matildas captaincy following her high-profile UK court case in February, was met with thunderous applause when shown on the stadium's big screens. Australia will play South Korea again on Monday at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium. The match should be the last under interim coach Tom Sermanni, with Football Australia keen to have Tony Gustavsson's permanent successor in place by mid-year. Lyon coach Joe Montemurro is the clear front runner for the position, though he is contracted for next season. Western United coach John Aloisi looms as an outside chance, after leading a youth-filled team to second place on the A-League Men table.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Micah makes case for No.1 spot as Matildas fall to USA
Teagan Micah is placing fresh pressure on Mackenzie Arnold's status as Australia's first-choice goalkeeper after an encouraging display in a credible 2-1 loss to the USA. Micah pulled off several impressive saves in Monday's (AEDT) SheBelieves Cup clash at State Farm Stadium in Arizona that will prompt fresh discussion over Arnold's stranglehold on the No.1 jersey. The 27-year-old Micah was not at fault for either of America's goals - the first of which came after just 43 seconds - and her reflexes kept Australia in the game right until the final whistle. Teagan Micah TAKE A BOW 🤯Micah with a outrageous save to keep @TheMatildas in the game💪🏻#USAvAUS LIVE on Paramount+🍿 — Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) February 23, 2025 Lynn Biyendolo put the USA ahead inside the first minute, before a dogged Australian side made the home team fight for their second goal through Michelle Cooper soon after the hour mark. Michelle Heyman headed home a delightful Hayley Raso cross in the 80th minute to give Australia hope of salvaging a draw. And while the Matildas could not find an equaliser, some of Micah's late glove work prevented the USA from putting the game beyond doubt. Remarkably the outing against the USA was just Micah's 18th senior cap, with ex-Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson having opted for Arnold as his No.1. But with Micah playing regularly with Liverpool in the Women's Super League, caretaker Australia coach Tom Sermanni says the shot-stopper is making a compelling case to become the Matildas' first-choice keeper. "It's been close (between Arnold and Micah) for some time (and) there's been times when Teagan has actually been the number one," Sermanni said. "The situation at the moment is Teagan has been playing week in and week out in the WSL and performing really well. "Mackenzie hasn't played and is barely back in pre-season training (with American club side Portland). "Particularly for a goalkeeper - it's not like an outfield player where you can run around - they need to get matches under the belt before they come in at this level." Sermanni said it was premature to indicate which way he would go for Australia's final game of the tournament on Thursday (AEDT) against Colombia. The coach was encouraged by the Matildas' response after he labelled their performance "un-Australian" in their opening match of the tournament, a 4-0 loss to Japan. "Our effort and attitude were so much better in this game, especially after the start we had," Sermanni said. "Given the performance of the last game and the result and then losing the goal after probably less than a minute, I think we could easily have just sort of caved in today. "So from a perspective of the team digging in and sticking in there, I was really pleased with that part of our performance." That start Sermanni referenced came in the shape of a goal for Biyendolo inside the first minute. The Americans split the Australian defence apart with ease and Jaedyn Shaw's delivery from the left of the penalty box was easily finished by Biyendolo. Raso ➡️ Heyman ➡️ 🥅A picture perfect cross from Hayley Raso sets up Michelle Heyman and @TheMatildas pull one back in Phoenix Watch #USAvAUS LIVE on Paramount+📺 — Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) February 23, 2025 She had a second chalked off for offside five minutes later, and Micah was forced to parry away one of the American's long-range efforts. Rocked early, the Matildas began to grow into the game as the first half wore on, then continued that rhythm after the break when they were more than a match for the world No.1. They were, however, unable to finish their chances, and the USA had no such issues when Steph Catley and Charli Grant failed to contain Allyson Sentnor, who teed up Cooper for America's second in the 68th minute. Heyman gave Australia hope of snatching a draw with her late strike, but all the action was at the other end, Micah doing incredibly well to deny Sentnor and keep the final score close.
New York Times
20-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Australia coach Tom Sermanni addresses Sam Kerr concerns ahead of SheBelieves Cup
On the eve of Australia's SheBelieves Cup debut, interim head coach Tom Sermanni said the Matildas are ready to move on from the lingering questions about Sam Kerr. 'For us, the most important part is if we (can) get Sam healthy as quickly and as safely as possible and get her back on the field,' Sermanni told reporters on Wednesday. Advertisement The rest, he repeated to reporters, was 'irrelevant.' Speaking from Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, the Scottish manager navigated multiple questions about the team's longtime captain, who last week was found not guilty of aggravated harassment of a police officer following a seven-day trial in London. Kerr has been absent from international duty since last year, following an ACL injury sustained at training in Morocco. Yet concerns over her future role on the team have loomed upon her return to the international stage. Questions have lingered as to whether Kerr would resume her captaincy, a position veteran defender Stephanie Catley has since stepped into. Catley has 'done a fantastic job,' Sermanni said. Any concerns over Kerr's captaincy are 'irrelevant,' he added. 'It's really, completely and utterly not part of our focus,' he said. 'Because at this minute in time, Sam is injured. She's been injured for 13 months. Hasn't been in international (competition) for 16 months, and the team is just getting on with its normal business.' GO DEEPER Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer The Matildas open SheBelieves on Thursday against Asian Football Confederation rivals Japan. The tournament is an important milestone for the Australians as they prepare to host the AFC Asian Cup next year. SheBelieves marks the team's first games of 2025 as Sermanni continues to experiment with the Matilda's lineup. 'For us, it's just getting on, getting prepared for this tournament this week, and, again, looking forward to 2026,' Sermanni said. While Kerr may be far from the United States, the team remains in contact over her recovery. Sermanni has been in touch with Kerr over text, he said, explaining that their interactions have been brief because he wanted to respect her space. 'It's been a pretty long couple of weeks with Sam. So, the last thing she needs is people constantly badgering her at this time,' Sermanni said. 'So, we've had some contact. She knows what we're thinking. Our physios are keeping in touch, keeping in touch with Chelsea. The lines of communication are very much open.' Advertisement Kerr's status with the team is just one of the questions facing the Matildas. Many wonder how long Sermanni will remain in his interim role, a job he said he is taking 'day to day.' There are also questions over the ongoing dispute between the team's players union, the Professional Footballers Australia, and their federation, Football Australia, with players telling reporters this week they are unsure how much they will be paid for competing in the SheBelieves Cup, according reports by Australian media. Players have also kept their comments on Kerr brief since the verdict, mostly wishing their teammate well in her recovery. Defender Ellie Carpenter was one of the first to speak on it, telling Australian reporters on Tuesday, 'For us, we hope she's OK.'
