The Matildas began their new era under head coach Joe Montemurro with a bang. They put on a dazzling display in their opening warm-up match against Slovenia, which took place in Perth. The Australian women’s national team made their mark immediately with a display of prowess and resolve. Attend to Emily Gielnik opening the scoring inside only two minutes to put the co-hosts ahead early on. That optimistic beginning sparked the atmosphere that would define the match. The Matildas looked to impose their will early on the field.
In the first half, the Matildas had 56 percent of possession, showing their dominance and capability to dictate the tempo of the match. They created plenty, firing six shots on goal, two of which tested Blues’ keeper Robert Sánchez. Even though Slovenia were able to put some serious pressure on Australia’s defense, the Matildas kept their cool and continued making a number of dangerous chances. Emily van Egmond in particular had a New Zealand defender all over her, making it hard to get a clean connection with the ball. This occurred on a pivotal play in the game.
Strong Defensive Play
Ellie Carpenter was brilliant from start to finish, proving instrumental in the team’s overall dominance and setting the tone early, instigating danger up the right flank. Her work was supported by Clare Hunt in a successful turnaround from earlier struggles, becoming a daunting force on defense. Combined, they made up a strong backline that prevented Slovenia from really generating any threatening scoring chances. Teagan Micah, the Matildas’ goalkeeper, was forced to work within the first 3 minutes and was required to pull out a remarkable save early on.
The Matildas did play safely under pressure on occasion, choosing to reset backwards and search for a more trustworthy progression up the field. This tactic created space for them to hold onto the ball before pouncing when the opportunity arose. Holly McNamara and Amy Sayer stood out above the rest, as they always seemed to be searching for ways to weave through Slovenia’s backline. Their determination nearly reaped them rewards as they almost found a way through several times.
Tactical Changes and Substitutions
During the cup final, as the game unfolded coach Joe Montemurro made tactical substitutions to energise his side and keep up the pace. Natasha Prior and Michelle Heyman came on for Ellie Carpenter and Clare Hunt. Heyman is famous for her goal-scoring touch. She does have the capacity to break up play and really be a difference maker off the bench, as the Matildas look to build some firepower.
For Sara Makovec of Slovenia, tension turned to exasperation as her shot sailed over the bar. In stunned silence, she laid down on the turf for a moment as she processed what could’ve been. This attack demonstrated the extreme strain on Australia’s defense. Parallel to that, it unbelievably underscored their resilience to keep defending Slovenia’s pushes away.
