Golden generation still glitters as veterans kickstart misfiring Matildas | OneFootball

Suddenly, somehow, Caitlin Foord had the ball at her feet at the halfway line, in a moment of relief from the suffocating Chinese midfield. The match was in the balance at 1-1, and this fine generation of Matildas was as close to glory as they were to embarrassment in the feverish pressure of another home tournament.

The pitch of the crowd’s cheers climbed, as their eyes descended on Sam Kerr, now in space between two red jerseys in China’s last line of defence. The captain took four brisk steps, showing acceleration the whispers wondered whether she still possessed.

Then her arm shot out in front, pointing to the space in behind. Everyone understood: the No 20 wanted the ball. But in truth it did Foord a disservice. This was a European Champions League winner, and already on Tuesday night the opening goalscorer. After playing alongside Kerr for Australia for 15 years, she knew what to do and the weight on her through ball was exquisite.

Until this point on Tuesday evening in Perth, the captain had been kept quiet. As China looked at least the hosts’ match for the first hour, it was hard not to wonder what the future holds for Australia’s greatest goalscorer. Advancing years temper the pace of even the greatest players, and a new generation of physical, professional defenders are already making the 32-year-old work harder than ever for goals.

But surging on to Foord’s through ball, these were ponderings for another day. Here was the home town hero bearing down on China’s keeper. As promising as her successors are – the majestic Mary Fowler, the relentless Kyra Cooney-Cross and the piston-powered Ellie Carpenter – there was no one more suited to this moment.

Or so we thought. Kerr was past the keeper with a reaching touch, but was she too wide? The byline appeared to bear down on her, the window to the goal tight and getting tighter. If the hearts of Matildas’ fans were not yet in their mouths, the oesophagus was getting a workout. Then the finish came, somehow threading the needle past the keeper, by the post, away from the retreating defender. As it inched over the line, a stadium could finally swallow.

The goal secured a 2-1 victory, sending the Matildas to Saturday’s final in Sydney against either tournament favourites Japan or group rivals South Korea. Their blemished performance against the latter last week forced the host nation down the long road towards the final via Perth.

It has meant the side has now played three of its five matches in Western Australia, finishing with this awkward Tuesday evening contest that drew a modest 35,170. The 6pm local kickoff was early for many working West Australians, but too late for young children on a school night. Add in the fact Australia’s place in this match wasn’t confirmed until Friday night, and there was justification for the tens of thousands of empty seats.

But after the crescendo of a Women’s World Cup cycle in which the Matildas’ laid claim to the status of Australia’s favourite sporting team, the turnout on Tuesday was a disappointment. The 24 AFL matches at the venue last year averaged 44,000, even as the Eagles took the wooden spoon and Fremantle were bumped in the first round of the finals.

Organisers must have been giddy when the WA government paid for hosting rights while also offering access to one of the country’s largest and most modern venues two rounds into the AFL season. But while the fans that did attend should be applauded for getting to the venue sited only somewhat conveniently in East Perth, organisers will feel this was an opportunity missed.

One suspects if the Matildas had swapped places with South Korea in group A, the Australian players would right now be preparing for a match against Japan in front of 60,000-plus on Wednesday night in Sydney.

On the other hand, China were – on paper – an easier draw. Nine-time champions, sure, including in 2022, but Japan have looked imperious so far, scoring 24 and conceding nought. The Chinese were widely seen as the preferable opponent.

Katrina Gorry would have had other ideas. She was the target of much of China’s physicality on Tuesday, including a nasty challenge late in the first half that both scraped studs down her calf and twisted her ankle. Ante Milicic had focused his team’s press on Australia’s ball-playing midfielders, a succession of red missiles inbound at the merest hint of a 50-50.

The flipside of that dynamic meant that if Australia could break that first line, the Chinese defence was exposed. Foord’s opener was thanks to swift ball movement from Fowler, who then burst into the box to cut back Carpenter’s short ball inside. Foord was maligned against South Korea when she let a series of chances go begging, but she finished confidently here.

Foord was central in the second, too, but she wouldn’t have had the chance to set up Kerr without the contribution from the excellent Kaitlyn Torpey, who was celebrating her 26th birthday. The left back won the ball on the edge of the box, then followed it through two challenges in the centre of the park. A sliding recovery nudged it to Kerr, who found Foord, kickstarting the final-bound Matildas machine.

Header image: [Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP]