Summary
Thank you for joining me again this evening on what proved a memorable night for Lydia Williams, rounded off by a confidence-boosting result for the Matildas. I’ll leave you with Mike Hytner’s match report. See you in France.
Updated
Just a reminder that the Matildas’ next match is in Marseille on July 25 when they take on Germany the day before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.
Legend Lyds 🥹
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
🫶 @lydsaussie #TilItsDone #Matildas #AUSvCHN pic.twitter.com/dKAm6UwaLv
We’ll find out the full squad tomorrow, but based on tonight’s allocation of minutes and tactics, I’d presume we’re looking at:
The first XI:
Arnold
Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley
Gorry, Cooney-Cross
Raso, Fowler, Foord
Heyman
On the plane: (12-18)
Micah (Back-up GK)
Torpey (Back-up fullback and wide midfield)
Van Egmond (Back-up midfield / false 9)
Vine (Back-up winger / striker)
Polkinghorne (Back-up central defender)
Yallop (Back-up midfield)
Wheeler (reserve midfielder)
Reserves:
Williams (reserve GK)
Grant (reserve defender)
Freier (Back-up forward)
+1
Wildcards:
Simon (Back-up Forward)
Galic (New kid on the block)
Updated
The Matildas, who lined up with eight likely Olympic starters, played much better than the makeshift side on Friday in Adelaide. The pace of Raso and Carpenter on the right was a constant threat, Cooney-Cross dominated midfield, and the set-piece delivery of Catley proved a weapon.
Heyman again impressed up front, and it was telling that when she was withdrawn she was replaced by Vine, usually a winger, suggesting there will be no wildcard entry to the Australian squad for Paris.
The pregame, and the first half belonged to Williams, who made her 104th, and probably final international appearance. The guard of honour and ceremony – starring Evonne Goolagong – brought tears to the eyes, and her substitution just before half-time allowed her one final moment in the spotlight. She may yet feature in Paris, but it would be unlikely.
A decent night’s work for Tony Gustavsson. A much improved performance from his side. An incredible farewell for Lydia Williams. And almost 77,000 fans to send off the Matildas to the 2024 Olympics.
Full-time: Australia 2-0 China
Preparations for Paris end on a high. Next up, the Olympic Games.
90+1 mins: Another pretty move from China, working the ball skilfully into the final third, but once there the shot comes in from long range, and Arnold has little difficulty bringing it under control. The visitors have played well again tonight but failed to convert the volume of entries into the final third into meaningful chances.
89 mins: Australia work through a training ground goal-kick routine but it ends quickly with the off-key Fowler miss-kicking.
87 mins: Final subs of the night see Grant and Polkinghorne get some game time. Carpenter and Kennedy are withdrawn. Cap 167 for Polks.
Updated
86 mins: Kennedy eventually blinks and clips a hopeful ball into the box. China make a mess of the clearance as Vine and Raso hunt the turnover but they eventually escape. Raso comes away from the incident with a limp.
85 mins: Still keep-ball.
84 mins: Australia are playing keep-ball as the match enters ints closing stages.
82 mins: It’s easy to get blasé about these numbers, but the support for the Matildas is extraordinary.
76,798 at @AccorStadium tonight 👏👏#AUSvCHN #Matildas #TilItsDone pic.twitter.com/NNJNooewgW
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
81 mins: Lovely one-touch stuff from China, working their way out of defence, and just as the first concerted attack in about 15 minutes starts to build a head of steam Yang Lina shoots meekly from long range to pad Mackenzie Arnold’s stats.
79 mins: Another routine save from Arnold after Li Mengwen fired off a speculative effort from the right side of the penalty area.
78 mins: Australia have a spell of possession but get nowhere. China try to break down the left but can’t get numbers in support quickly enough.
76 mins: Passes continue to go astray as the action becomes a series of grimaces and apologetic hand gestures.
74 mins: Passes are going astray for both sides but the intent and tempo is still there. These have been two spirited friendlies.
72 mins: Raso is now on the left, Yallop the right, and Fowler – who has been quiet tonight – slots into the No 10 position.
70 mins: The short corner is poor, but then Vine almost gifts China an opening, dwelling on the ball in the penalty area instead of clearing her lines. Yang fires in an instinctive shot but Arnold gets her angles right and saves well at her near post.
69 mins: China get on the ball down the left. First they try to get in behind Carpenter with pace – which isn’t ever likely to happen – then they build slowly, eventually forcing a corner.
67 mins: Gustavsson now surely showing his hand with who is to be named in his squad tomorrow. Yallop, Wheeler, Vine, and now Torpey, must all feel confident of their futures if they are getting minutes tonight.
65' | Another sub coming!
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
⬇️ @Tameka_Yallop
⬆️ @kaitlyn_torpey
🇦🇺 2-0 🇨🇳 #AUSvCHN#Matildas #TilitsDone
66 mins: Raso hits the post! Vine does superbly to chase down a lost cause and almost create an opportunity for herself. China fail to clear and from the edge of the box the Real Madrid flyer unleashes a thunderbolt that the Chinese keeper just about gets behind, with the help of the right-hand upright.
65 mins: A couple of minutes of scrappy play is suddenly energised by a Chinese counterattack. A beautiful curled ball over the top catches Kennedy and Hunt out of shape and eventually Zhang Linyan lets fly from 25m out, forcing Arnold into a diving save to her left.
62 mins: Vine hooks over from near the penalty spot after being found by a lovely floated ball from Yallop on the right.
61 mins: Australia have the bit between their teeth, snapping into challenges in midfield with Kennedy, then Raso, then Hunt, all getting their shorts dirty and emerging with the ball.
59 mins: China have been subdued this half so far but they muster a burst down the left that catches Australia napping and ends with Jiali Tang shooting on the turn straight at Arnold.
58 mins: Almost three for the Matildas but Yallop’s cross-cum-shot flashes across the face of goal.
GOAL! Australia 2-0 China (Raso, 56)
Cortnee Vine, take a bow. Hayley Raso gets the goal, but it’s all about the assist. Vine intercepts a Chinese counter in midfield, takes a couple of steps forward, then executes the perfect slide rule through-ball for the bursting run of Raso behind the Chinese defence. A couple of touches later and the ball is rolled cooly under Xu Huan to double Australia’s lead. Fantastic incisive football.
Updated
53 mins: Wheeler wins the ball back nicely in midfield but Australia lack any cohesion in transition with Carpenter getting tetchy on the right and Fowler failing to read the run of either Vine or Catley down the left.
51 mins: The experiment putting Vine up front is presumably contingency planning from Gustavsson. With Heyman out on her own as the sole fit centre forward in his plans he needs alternatives. It’s a big ask for a regular winger, especially when so much of the work of Heyman and Sam Kerr before her is with her back to goal.
49 mins: Few fringe Matildas players receive more love than Wheeler, but the Everton midfielder has either been starved of opportunities, or presented with difficult assignments. Here she has the boost of a goal and a half of football in a first-choice XI to stake her claim to a spot in Paris.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 China (Wheeler, 48)
Raso goes to ground near the corner of the box, inviting Catley to swing in a dangerous free-kick – and Wheeler, with practically her first touch of the match, nods home at the far post! That was inch-perfect from Catley, and the header was powerful and brave from the diminutive midfielder.
47 mins: Early corner for Australia. Cooney-Cross swings it into a dangerous area, but not for the first time tonight China do well to clear under pressure.
46 mins: Couple of changes at the break for Australia with Wheeler replacing Van Egmond in midfield and Vine coming on for Heyman up front – and she does line up centrally, not on the right wing.
Half-time: Australia 0-0 China
No goals, plenty of endeavour, and lots of love for Lydia Williams. See you in ten minutes.
45 mins: Meanwhile, the game goes on, and both sides look like they’re ready for some half-time fizzy pop.
43 mins: As the ball goes out of play, the crowd stands as one and applauds Lydia Williams who is substituted for Mackenzie Arnold. The noise is deafening for the 36-year-old who accepts the crowd’s love for the final time on Australian soil – and perhaps ever. Teammates rush over to offer hugs. Arnold embraces her warmly as she enters the field. Then it’s the turn of Gustavsson and the coaching staff. Lovely scenes.
Updated
42 mins: Another high turnover and Australia get into their work in a flash. It’s all a little scrappy though and nothing comes of it.
40 mins: Almost a wonder goal for Michelle Heyman! China cough up possession cheaply in midfield, Heyman pounces, looks up, sees nobody to pass to so just goes alone. With red shirts chasing like flames to a moth, she weaves left, then right, holding off defenders, showing incredible close control, dribbling into the box, and shooting…. agonisingly wide of goal.
39 mins: Gustavsson has moved from the dugout to his technical area, urging his side forward. Carpenter is the beneficiary, receiving an early ball on the right, but her cross slices horribly off her boot.
37 mins: Lovely move from China, picking the right passes from right to left, back to front, until the big switch opens up – only for the key pass to drift off target.
36 mins: Excellent from Hunt again, striding out of defence to intercept after Cooney-Cross had her pocket pinched.
34 mins: Copy and paste for Australia. Raso, one of the brightest sparks so far, gets to the byline, pulls the ball back towards the penalty spot but there aren’t enough yellow shirts committing to get into attacking positions and China clear.
32 mins: Better from the Matildas, and again it’s Carpenter injecting some life into proceedings down the right. Raso feeds her, and the cross from the byline is towards the penalty spot, but Van Egmond doesn’t gamble and China clear. If Australia are going to employ a strategy of crossing from the byline, they need to gamble and get bodies in the box.
30 mins: Australia seem reluctant to take the game on in the final third. With Raso’s speed and Fowler’s guile, there should always be a worthwhile one-on-one outlet, but the policy is always to retain possession and recycle play, despite the warren of blind alleys.
29 mins: The atmosphere has quietened as the energy in the Australian performance has dipped. Credit has to go once again to Ante Milicic for his tactics.
27 mins: Good defending by Hunt, who read the situation well as China built nicely through midfield. Liu Yanqiu, Wang Shuang, and Zhang Linyan are technical, dangerous footballers.
25 mins: The problem with that approach, of course, is opponents know it all too well and counter it by dropping off, sitting deep, and allowing Australia to play in front of them. China retreat into that defensive phalanx and for a few minutes the Matildas look a shadow of their potential. Not only that, but when China force the turnover Van Egmond deliberately pulls back a midfield raider and receives a straightforward yellow card.
23 mins: Much as they played against Canada at AAMI Park during the World Cup, the Matildas look at their most potent when they play for high turnovers instead of working the ball from side to side in laboured build-up play. To that end, Yallop, Heyman, Van Egmond, and Raso make a formidable pressing unit.
21 mins: Yallop wins a high turnover and Australia are away again – until Raso and Carpenter get their wires crossed. Raso doesn’t let it bother her and she shows her incredible speed, hunting down Liu Yanqiu on the counter.
19 mins: Everyone except Williams is in China’s half as Australia’s back four move the ball at speed from one side to the other, inviting Raso to join in a series of rondos to drag China out place. The first wave is defended but the second is not far behind with Heyman accepting possession on the edge of the box, squaring to Yallop – who is dumped to the turf – but play continues and Raso slices a drive towards goal that’s easy for Xu Huan to gather.
17 mins: Another good set piece from Catley but China are again committed in defence. The Matildas do their best to recycle play but eventually the ball to the dashing Carpenter is overhit and China enjoy some respite.
16 mins: Great save Xu Huan! Australia are playing some lovely football, Van Egmond especially, pulling the strings from midfield. She releases Heyman in the inside right channel who feeds Raso inside her who carries the ball towards the six yard box before firing at the Chinese keeper who stood her ground superbly to deflect the ball behind for a corner.
15 mins: Australia continue to pose a threat. Heyman almost gets a shot away, then Van Egmond nearly creates an opening in the box with a deft backheel.
14 mins: It’s end-to-end suddenly with Carpenter’s hustle forcing a corner. Catley’s first effort curls in towards the near post and headed behind for another set-piece. The second effort is punched off the line by Xu Huan and China battle bravely to smuggle the ball out of danger despite plenty of Matildas in attendance.
13 mins: Now it’s China’s turn to miss the target, albeit from a much more difficult position. As they showed on Friday, China are dangerous on the counter, especially down their left, and another quick transition releases Wang Shuang. Her cross floats to the far post and is eventually recycled to Shen Mengyu to shoot wide from the edge of the box.
11 mins: Yallop must score! Magnificent from Carpenter, drifting inside from the right, rolling her marker then driving into the penalty area. At full speed she whips over a menacing cross that evades Heyman but bobbles up for Yallop eight yards out to hammer home. But she side-foots tamely over the bar. That was exceptional from Carpenter.
10 mins: After a brisk opening Australia decide to slow the tempo and pass the ball around midfield and defence in a bid to draw China out of shape. Ante Milicic’s side are too disciplined and don’t fall for the trap.
8 mins: Kennedy blasts over the bar from range after tenacious play on the left by Catley and Fowler. The opportunity should have fallen to Yallop but she was slow to react to the lay-off.
6 mins: Raso gets another opportunity to run at the retreating Chinese defence after good work from Van Egmond, but her drive form the edge of the box is deflected away from the target. Australia execute a strong high press and quickly regain possession. This has been a bright start from both teams. The Matildas are showing much more intent than on Friday.
4 mins: As in Adelaide, China show they are not overawed by the surroundings, passing the ball crisply between the lines and working space on the left before Wang Shuang’s cross is blocked and eventually cleared.
4 mins: Australia’s midfield set-up features Cooney-Cross as the pivot with Yallop and van Egmond further advanced as twin-eights. I think that plays to the strengths of that particular threesome.
3 mins: Australia build nicely in possession down the right and Raso injects her trademark pace to get the crowd excited. Her cross is just out of reach of Fowler at the far post.
2 mins: Williams gets an early touch after China overhit a through-ball. Plenty of cheers greet the comfortable take. Structurally, Australia are set up in the 4-3-3 you’d expect, with Fowler scheming from the left.
Kick-off!
90 minutes to Paris…
Lydia Williams has one final duty to take care of before we get under way though, tossing the coin and exchanging pennants with Wu Haiyan.
Anthems sung, fireworks lit, let’s get down to business.
“I predict 4-0 and a Mary Fowler hat trick,” emails James Paraskevas. I think most people in Accor Stadium would be delighted with that outcome.
As the two teams stand in wait, Evonne Goolagong appears to present the now tearful Williams a buka cloak. That was pitch perfect. Well done everyone involved.
Presented the microphone, Williams chokes back the tears to say: “Thank you, everyone. I’m so proud to be here tonight. Let’s go, Tillies!”. More tears follow as a highlight reel plays in the stadium.
Updated
Out walk most of the the two sides onto the Accor Stadium turf to deafening noise. There’s a pause, then Australia’s substitutes, coaching staff, friends and family form a guard of honour for Lydia Williams to accept the applause of the Matildas faithful. That’s a lovely touch. She is a champion.
Considering all the rain that has been poured over Sydney recently it is mercifully dry tonight. It is chilly though, with a westerly breeze making itself known.
Ready to go 👊
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
⏰: 7:40pm AEST
📺📱💻 @10FootballAU#Matildas #TilitsDone #AUSvCHN pic.twitter.com/6ILCveRO6x
A quick digression into tonight’s opponents, China, who proved on Friday they are a team with bags of potential. There was a lot to admire about former Matildas coach Ante Milicic’s first match in charge with structure and discipline in defence and purpose in attack. There was an edge to everything they did in Adelaide that makes for ideal pre-tournament sparring partners. Nothing can be taken for granted tonight.
Thank you, Lyds! 💜#Matildas #TilitsDone #ThanksLyds @lydsaussie pic.twitter.com/x7QqDpga9O
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
More on Lydia Williams, who will feature for the Matildas for the last time on Australian soil tonight.
In case you need reminding, the task facing Australia at the Olympics could hardly be more daunting. The Matildas were drawn in Group B alongside four-time gold medallists USA and 2016 champions Germany. Lowly Zambia make up the numbers.
Australia’s campaign gets under way against fifth-ranked Germany in Marseille on Thursday July 25. Then it’s outsiders Zambia in Nice on July 28. With everything on the line against fourth-ranked USA back in Marseille on July 31.
All matches are 3am (AEST) kick-offs.
Here’s my take on how things stand.
The first XI:
Arnold
Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley
Gorry, Cooney-Cross
Raso, Fowler, Foord
Heyman
On the plane: (12-15)
Micah (Back-up GK)
Torpey (Back-up fullback and wide midfield)
Van Egmond (Back-up midfield / false 9)
Vine (Back-up winger)
In the mix: (16-18)
Polkinghorne (Back-up central defender)
Yallop (Back-up midfield)
Freier (Back-up forward)
Reserves:
Williams (reserve GK)
Grant (reserve defender)
Wheeler (reserve midfielder)
Wildcards:
Simon (Back-up Forward)
Galic (New kid on the block)
Jack Snape ran the rule over Gustavsson’s selection issues before the first friendly.
Australia XI
Eight of Gustavsson’s best XI start tonight with the injured pair of Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry missing out, while Mackenzie Arnold starts on the bench to allow Lydia Williams the opportunity to captain the side in her 104th and possibly final international match.
Looking ahead to Paris the big winner appears to be Tameka Yallop, who has been selected as Gorry’s understudy. She will hope to have more of an impact tonight after underwhelming in Adelaide.
STARTING XI 🗒
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
Here's how we line up for our game against China PR at Accor Stadium.👊
🫡@lydsaussie leads us out tonight in her final game on home soil
⏰: 7:40pm AEST
📺💻📱: @10FootballAU#Matildas #TilitsDone pic.twitter.com/RhFMqK3NKQ
Here’s how Joey Lynch saw things over in Adelaide on Friday night:
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v China from Accor Stadium in Sydney. Kick-off in this Olympic farewell friendly is 7:40pm.
You know the drill from Friday: the Matildas play their first match at the Paris Olympics in less than eight weeks. By then, Tony Gustavsson will have selected his 18-strong squad (with four reserves). Tonight offers the final opportunity to nail down selection.
Gustavsson will hope to learn more in Sydney than he did in Adelaide. The first friendly in this double-header against China did not go according to plan with no fringe squad players grasping their opportunity to shine in an unfamiliar starting XI, with the visitors the better of the two teams for most of the night.
Intent in midfield is a worry, especially with Katrina Gorry’s recent injury, and there was a distinct lack of inspiration in the final third, a situation not helped by Caitlin Foord trudging off nursing a tight hamstring.
As has often been the case under Gustavsson it’s difficult to fully appraise the situation as those fringe players are likely to only be required sparingly, surrounded by the regular starters. Consequently it’s hard to determine if those individuals are being measured unfairly as a collective, or if there is a serious drop-off from the XI that picks itself, to the rest.
Away from the tactical nitty-gritty, tonight offers another opportunity to marvel at the popularity of the Matildas with a 14th consecutive sell-out on home soil. It is also a farewell appearance for Lydia Williams – not just for the Olympics – but for good, with the veteran goalkeeper retiring from international football after the Games.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
Tonight we are playing on Wangal country.
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
We acknowledge the Wangal as the first Custodians of the land, air and water where Stadium Australia is situated today, and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. pic.twitter.com/vdjPM2XOZJ
