Thank you for joining me tonight, and for the duration of this hugely successful Cup of Nations for Australia. The Matildas are finding results, combinations, and patches of form, at the right time. The world cup later this year cannot come soon enough.
If Sunday was dominated by the pace and dynamism of Australia’s wide players, tonight it was more about the control and skill of those through the middle, especially Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry, both of whom scored superb goals. But again they were indebted to goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold who made a number of crucial saves and commanded her penalty area.
As with the victory over Spain, tonight’s performance wasn’t one of dominance for 90 minutes. The first half in particular was poor with Courtney Nevin and Larissa Crummer failing to justify their inclusions in the starting XI. Patterns of play from the back were disjointed and too often balls were thumped long on the diagonal; a strategy unlikely to win a world cup.
There was more precision and industry after the break with the introduction of Alex Chidiac, and after her nimble footwork earned the second of the night the match opened up and the Matildas were a constant threat in transition.
Next up is a serious test against European champions England, a match that will give Australian fans the clearest indication yet about how ready this group is to take on the world on home soil.
Stay tuned for Emma Kemp’s match report and further analysis during the week, but for now, goodnight!
Seven wins a row, another clean sheet for Mackenzie Arnold, and three excellent goals (none finished by Sam Kerr). The momentum continues to build for the Matildas.
Full-time: Australia 3-0 Jamaica
Australia round off a successful Cup of Nations in New South Wales with a 3-0 victory over Jamaica.
90+2 mins: Australia are now happy to run down the clock as the game edges into time added on.
89 mins: Jamaica deserve a consolation goal for their performance across the 90 minutes but Washington is unable to deliver it, firing over after a nippy dart towards the box.
Rousing applause in Newcastle as Sam Kerr leaves the fray early, replaced by the returning Tameka Yallop.
87 mins: Speaking of excellence, Arnold continues her stellar form, denying Brown’s shot on the burst with a diving stop at her near post. Terrific goalkeepeing.
85 mins: Catley is caught late by Matthews after clearing the ball, and that’s a yellow card for the Jamaican.
A final flurry of substitutions for Australia with Wheeler and Fowler getting a few minutes at the death, allowing the excellent pair of Foord and Gorry a breather.
82 mins: It should be four, but Foord is denied by Spencer from point blank range. It was the result of an awful mistake from Allyson Swaby who stumbled in possession on her own six-yard line, hitting the deck in instalments, landing on the ball – touching it with her arm, apologising for the handball, but still not conceding a penalty.
77 mins: Kerr has been busy all night but mainly doing unselfish things. She finally gets a sight on goal but her snapshot is straight at Spencer.
75 mins: Another golden opportunity goes begging for Jamaica. Washington just runs and runs and runs but fails to get a shot away or find her support runner, allowing Grant to drift across and execute a superb covering tackle.
73 mins: Cooney-Cross, much quieter tonight, is replaced by van Egmond. Both will recognise their places near the starting XI are being tested by the effervescent Chidiac, whose appearance off the bench has helped lubricate Australia’s ball movement.
71 mins: Australia 3-0 up without playing particularly well. I guess that’s a pretty good sign.
The Matildas will also be pleased about seeing the back of the combative Spence, who takes her place on the bench, replaced by Carter
GOAL! Australia 3-0 Jamaica (Foord, 69)
That’s the pick of the goals this tournament. Foord and Kerr play a one-two around the D before the former unleashes a rasping drive that arcs away from the despairing Spencer and into the back of the net off the inside of the post. Super super strike. Foord’s movement is so intelligent and that finish was world class.
67 mins: Australia lock the ball in Jamaica’s half for the first time all night, working the triangles, manipulating space, but the final ball to Vine from Nevin is overhit and all that build-up goes begging.
64 mins: “Two-nil is a dangerous lead” klaxon! Come on Robbie Thomson, you’re better than that.
Enjoy this masterpiece from a modern day hero.
63 mins: Vine misses the target from the edge of the box after doing well to win back possession in midfield and drive forward. Australia are now very much on the front foot. The intensity has lifted in the past 10-15 minutes.
58 mins: Chidiac and Gorry link up again but the latter’s cross doesn’t reach Kerr. Then Nevin and Foord dovetail nicely but the Arsenal forward can’t find enough room to shoot. Much better final third interplay from Australia.
Double substitution for Jamaica with the hardworking McKenna making way for Matthews while Van Zanten is replaced by Washington.
GOAL! Australia 2-0 Jamaica (Chidiac, 56)
There we go. With play broken Australia work the ball down the right, Gorry hits the byline and lays the ball back to Chidiac who shows great skill to evade two Jamaican defenders and smash the ball into the roof of the net from five metres out. That will be a very popular goal from a fan favourite.
55 mins: Everything’s getting a bit stretched and disjointed. That should suit the Matildas in transition, and almost does with Nevin on the burst, but then almost undoes them when McKenna gets the better of Catley in midfield but Hunt does superbly to shepherd the Jamaican away from danger.
53 mins: Jamaica move the ball with great confidence through the lines. It’s not as finessed as Spain but there’s excellent technique and bravery in possession, especially in the centre of the park with Spence and Primus.
51 mins: Excellent work on a couple of occasions from Foord – with and without the ball – but nothing comes of it because Vine miscontrolled a hot pass from Nevin.
49 mins: Both Vine and Gorry try to take the game on in the final third but neither can force their way through and Jamaica break. The team in black go from one end to the other until Blackwood leathers a left-footed swipe miles wide.
47 mins: The first shot of the half is a Jamaican one but Primus drags her effort wide from the edge of the box.
The second half is underway in Newcastle and Tony Gustavsson has made a couple of changes. Polkinghorne has a breather – perhaps an enforced one following her first-half head knock – with Grant coming in at right-back, Nevin shifting to the left and Catley slotting in at centre-half. Also, Chidiac is a straight swap for the disappointing Crummer on the right of midfield.
Half-time: Australia 1-0 Jamaica
Arnold plucks a corner out of the air like an American fighter jet neutralising a UFO weather balloon. It is the last action of an underwhelming first-half.
45+2 mins: Australia outmuscle Jamaica in midfield offering Foord room to run into but she never seemed certain and is eventually crowded out. Jamaica then earn their best chance of the night but McKenna can’t beat Arnold one-on-one after being played onside by her marker Hunt. The Matildas keeper’s reputation grows by the game.
45+1 mins: Another long ball out of defence towards Kerr is cut out by Jamaica.
44 mins: Better from Cummer, beating her direct opponent to the ball then moving dynamically outside before clipping an early ball across the top of the box. Kerr and Vine both fancy their chances but Jamaica’s last ditch defending is desperate and effective.
43 mins: Jamaica’s midfield work rate has been superb. Yet again they catch Cooney-Cross napping on the ball and it takes a tactical foul to deny the all-action Spence a chance of breaking.
41 mins: Blackwood is too strong and quick for Crummer on the left, but her shot on the angle is easy for Arnold. Jamaica’s attack allows the Matildas to counter and they take advantage of the rare opportunity with Cooney-Cross carrying the ball forward dangerously but her through-ball for Kerr is delayed too long and Jamaica block the eventual shot.
39 mins: Awful turnover coming out of defence from Hunt. The back four have not been in sync with the midfield in front of them and Jamaica’s press has picked the pockets of Gorry and Cooney-Cross repeatedly.
37 mins: Van Zanten has time and space on the right to threaten for Jamaica but she takes too long before deciding to shoot and is eventually closed down by Catley. The Arsenal fullback is soon up the other end but her cross on the overlap is cleared.
36 mins: The most obvious difference to Australia’s fluidity compared to the Spain match is down the right where the two inclusions – Nevin and Crummer – have failed to replicate the impact of Grant and Raso.
Source: the guardian
