Matildas defeat resolute Philippines in second Asian Cup group game in Mumbai

FT: Australia 4 – 0 Philippines

It was actually a recreation of two halves, that.

Maybe as a result of they had been coming off the again of that completely dominant efficiency towards Indonesia, it took a while for the Matildas to heat into this match towards a way more organised, bodily aggressive Philippines facet.

Regardless of making a wealth of alternatives, their Sixty fourth-ranked opponents did brilliantly to maintain the scores at 0-0 heading into half-time, typically isolating Sam Kerr and forcing Australia to play hopeful lengthy balls.

However the Matildas discovered one other gear within the second 45 minutes, aided by an injection of vibrant younger gamers, and had been in a position to rating 4 to take their Aim Distinction as much as +22.

And that’ll be the most important theme rising in discussions afterwards: the glimpse into the long run we obtained within the closing 20 minutes of the match that noticed Mary Fowler, Cortnee Vine, Holly McNamara, Remy Siemsen, Courtney Nevin, and Kyra Cooney-Cross all on the sector on the identical time.

The Philippines subsequent tackle bottom-placed Indonesia and are wanting more likely to safe second spot in Group B, which means they will face both Taiwan or Iran within the subsequent spherical.

The Matildas, in the meantime, subsequent face Thailand, who posed them an surprising problem on the 2018 version of the match, poking and prodding Australia’s weaknesses. Neither facet, you think about, would have forgotten that turning-point recreation, which was arguably the start of the top for Alen Stajcic, who confronted the complete drive of his outdated facet tonight.

Thanks all for following alongside and for the participating chat within the feedback! I will be again to live-blog that third and ultimate group recreation within the early hours of Friday morning. Hope to see you there!

Ellie Carpenter earns a foolish yellow card for cheekily stopping a fast re-start.

Fowler makes it 4!

How about that method from the younger striker? An ideal demonstration of the Matildas’ next-generation as McNamara, Vine, and Fowler had been all concerned in that play, with the ball bobbling out completely in direction of the D and Fowler completely leathers it into the underside left nook.

A seventh objective for the Montpellier striker in her Matildas profession.

4-0 to Australia within the 87th minute.

It is a good-old fa***oned story of two halves. As soon as Tony referred to as within the cavalry for Australia, the end result turned simple. I hope the Malditas bounce again towards Indonesia, although. One factor is for sure: Thailand are in hassle.

-JR

To not give everyone PTSD flashbacks, however remember the 2018 Asian Cup semi-final towards Thailand! They had been main 2-1 heading into stoppage time earlier than Alanna Kennedy equalised within the 91st minute.

We did not suppose they’d be a lot chop then, both…

3 – 0 will enhance the Matilda’s objective differential – 1 million for, nothing towards

-cautious

They’re going to be a lot happier with a clear sheet than with the variety of objectives they win by, I would say. As we mentioned earlier within the weblog, it is well-known that Australia wrestle defensively, and the previous 12 months beneath Gustavsson has seen the Matildas cop some fairly huge outcomes towards them.

In the event that they’re in a position to tidy up these errors and get by means of a lot of this match with out conceding, that’ll be one of many greatest wins they will take from the entire thing.

Two extra Aussie subs

Remy Siemsen and Kyra Cooney-Cross make their first Asian Cup appearances, changing Sam Kerr and Tameka Yallop.

Meaning each participant besides veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams, winger Emily Gielnik, and defender Charlotte Grant have obtained minutes thus far this match. Rotation is essential in brief codecs like this, so it is nice to see Gustavsson leaning into his squad depth.

Vine simply made me love her much more after what 1 minute of being on the pitch!

-Alison

She is such a expertise, is not she? Artistic, blistering tempo, courageous, bodily, takes possibilities that different attackers won’t. That is the good thing about being fairly younger, I suppose; you have nonetheless received that aptitude and confidence about you.

She’s been tearing it up for Sydney FC within the A-League Girls’s competitors, which is what received her seen by Gustavsson. And if these first couple of minutes are something to go by, she’ll be shining in green-and-gold for loads of years to return.

What a save!

Goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla makes a sensational point-blank cease to maintain a towering Alanna Kennedy header out of the online.

3-0 to Australia with simply over ten minutes to play.

Is a 3-0 win a p*** mark for you Sam? Or would you anticipate 5+?

-Credit score Saison

I believe lots of people, together with me, had been underestimating the Philippines.

It is tough to evaluate groups you do not have a lot publicity to and who have not performed very a lot over the previous 12 months or two – particularly through the pandemic.

To be truthful to Australia, although, they in all probability ought to have transformed not less than two or three main possibilities within the first half. That wasn’t right down to the Philippines’ work a lot because the Matildas not being correct sufficient.

On one other day, we might’ve seen a much bigger score-line. However full credit score the place it is due: Stajcic has turned this right into a technically and tactically sound group with a core of spectacular gamers. I am actually excited to see how they progress within the subsequent few years.

Possibilities galore!

Vine is instantly amongst the motion, sending a scrumptious reverse-pass by means of the defence to search out Mary Fowler.

Fowler’s square-ball finds Yallop however her shot clatters off the underside of the crossbar and is cleared.

It is debut time!

Cortnee Vine earns her first cap for Australia!

She joins fellow teenager Holly McNamara, who got here on instead towards Indonesia, in a triple substitute for Australia, changing Kyah Simon on the correct wing.

Caitlin Foord comes off for McNamara, whereas Catley – who’s been a stand-out – is changed by Courtney Nevin.

GOAL AUSTRALIA!

This one was a bit scrappy. A brief nook this time finds Catley, who fizzes a low ball into the close to publish. The goalkeeper and defenders throw themselves each which manner, however it falls completely to Emily Van Egmond who slams dwelling.

3-0 on 67 minutes.

Australia are, as Chelsea boss Emma Hayes would possibly describe it, “purring.”

LOL the ABC robotic blocks *** even when it’s in a phrase like p***. Twitter this ain’t

– Matt

Is not it quaint? ABC is family-friendly even up late on mid-week live-blogs.

Wouldn’t thoughts to say raso on this one… I believe having performed in some groups who sit in low block while being with man metropolis could be efficient.

Or herald vine for her dribbling capacity and taking in additional gamers.

-Alison

It is #VineTime.

What are your ideas of transitioning to three within the again?

I say this as a result of now we have gamers like Carpenter and Catley who management the wings with their excessive work price. Which is able to draw Foord and Simon into the center and be an alternative choice alongside Kerr.

-Chipdaddy

Good query. As we’re seeing on this recreation, an enormous a part of the Matildas’ superb game-plan is giving each Catley and Carpenter the house to dominate their respective wings, creating overloads on both flank and delivering crosses into the field. Actually, the 2 full-backs are often two of essentially the most inventive relating to assists/creating main possibilities. However as a way to facilitate that, you allow the Matildas extra uncovered on the again with gradual defenders and gaping areas. So Gustavsson has to compromise, which has typically meant seeing one full-back unleashed whereas the opposite stays again, and vice-versa. That flexibility is vital, I believe, and it additionally means we’ll at all times have one fast defender as a part of the three.

And, as you say, it creates moments for wingers like Foord, Simon, Raso, or Gielnik to tuck into extra central channels and create overloads in entrance of objective.

That is the Utopian model of the Matildas. However that is not at all times the way it works in follow.

I believe it is come right down to you Sam, sort ‘Aim Australia’ and it’ll occur.

-pre-empt

Kyah Simon makes it two!

Simon nips in behind the Philippines’ defence and chases in a looping Sam Kerr header.

That objective appeared to occur when no one was wanting – together with me!

2-0!!!

GOAL AUSTRALIA!

Lastly – the Philippines’ defence is damaged.

And who else however Sam Kerr, rising highest on a nook to delicately deflect an arrow-accurate nook from Steph Catley into the far nook of the online.

1-0.

Likelihood Aus!

Carpenter is given waaay an excessive amount of house out on the correct, taking a single good contact into the field however her whole-body-energy shot sails over the crossbar.

I do know that is virtually cliché at this level, however EvE because the quantity 6 doesn’t work effectively. She’s higher increased up the pitch and doesn’t get the play going from the bottom of midfield.
Too many crosses in hope – these aren’t possibilities created. Would love some extra p***ing by means of Fowler into Kerr by means of the center. And some extra attackers dribbling and making an attempt to create that manner.

-Lachlan

Agreed. Possibly we must always arrange a replay of this on the FIFA videogame and see the way it shakes out.