Anyway, that’s enough of my stream of consciousness masquerading as a minute-by-minute, thank you for following along with it all this evening and stay tuned for Jo Khan’s report.
Updated
Alan Hughes on the emails obviously not a big fan of how things went: “That is the last “football” match that will be watched in this house. What on earth was the referee doing allowing all that blatant time-wasting by the cynical Iranian team? A travesty.”
Seems a bit of an overreach to discard an entire match based off one result, Alan. Maybe give your local A-League Women side a go when they return to action and see if that’s more to your taste?
Tony Gustavsson to Network Ten: “Football is also about relationships and getting time together to get synchronised and understand each other. You can see little training time and a lot of new combinations out there.
“But I love the bravery that we played with out there tonight. Compare this game to the Ireland game [the Matildas opening game of the World Cup], a low-block 5-4-1, the Ireland game we didn’t have the guts to play through.
“A lot more combination play today and it’s time to take the next step with the ball. I saw a brave team trying to play combinations today which I was happy with.”
The post-game punditry panel are coming out in force for Clare Wheeler, saying that she’s giving Gustavsson a selection headache and pressuring Cooney-Cross and Gorry.
It’s a big call to replace one of those two but the Everton midfielder was good tonight.
Maybe it’s something about Australian football. Be it women’s teams or men’s teams, senior teams or junior teams, outfits in green and gold consistently struggle to break down opponents sitting in a low-block.
In major tournaments against the best sides in the world, this isn’t often a problem. But against lesser heralded foes such as those frequently found in Asia it’s an issue that keeps raising its head.
Maybe this is all looking a gift horse in the mouth. The Matildas won, after all. And they didn’t really have time together in camp before kickoff (albeit, given that 21 of the 22 have been part of the squad for a while, that’s probably not as much of an issue as it could be). But maybe these are the conversations we’ll be having, need to be having, over the coming years as we all wait to see if this side can take another step in the coming years.
Of course, the solution for this all, as it is in most tactical and technical issues, is probably fixed at a youth level.
Updated
Andy Harper calls it a “frustrating night” for the Matildas and he’s absolutely right. They end the evening with 79% possession, 19 corners, and 25 shots (six on target) while restricting Iran to just two shots but could only find a way past Khajavi on two occasions.
Iran defended with desperation, numbers, and a liberal sprinkling of the dark arts and frustrated their opponents. They were never going to win but they didn’t want to lose by much. And they didn’t. We asked pre-game if the experimental Australian outfit would have what it would take to break down a resolute low-block and for the most part, they couldn’t do it.
Now, few opponents will sit as deep and abandon thoughts of attacking like the Iranians did. More openings should ostensibly be open against better credentialled opponents. But this was still an opponent that would have been expected to be dispatched with a bit more ruthlessness.
Of course, then that Fowler, Catley, and Kerr substitution came. The addition of the fresh legs, sheer class of the former two, and the nose for goal from the latter broke the backs of the Iranian resistance. Australia have a lot of players to come into this squad – we didn’t even see Caitlin Foord or Katrina Gorry tonight, Australia’s best at the World Cup – and they’ll be ready for future games.
But are these problems against lesser opponents about talent or are they systemic? What did it all mean? Well, we can have our hypothesis, but maybe we need a bit more data. Philippines coach Mark Torcaso will no doubt have been watching that game with keen interest, we’ll have to see what lessons he, and Gustavsson, will have taken from this game ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
Updated
Full time! Australia 2-0 Iran
The Matildas have done it. Carpenter and Kerr with goals in either half to consign a brave Iranian outfit to defeat in their opening AFC Olympic Qualification fixture.
90+12: Zolfi tries to break down the wing but Carpenter snuffs it out.
90+10: Commentators note that it’s gone past midnight on the Eastern seaboard of Australia. Indeed it has, Robbie Thompson, and some of us need to be at a press conference with Melbourne Victory men’s coach Tony Popovic first thing in the morning.
90+11: Yet more corners and yet more desperate defending from the Iranians – Kerr having a header cleared off the line, albeit it looked like it came off van Egmond.
Updated
90+8 Mins: Fowler with another incredible delivery for Kerr but her header goes wide. Fowler really could hit a needle in a haystack with a pinpoint cross.
90+7 Mins: Space is opening up now and the Iranians use it to launch a rare move forward. Alas, it ends without them being able to work it into the penalty area.
90+5 Mins: And the corner is cleared away… for another corner. The 16th set piece delivery is whipped in by Catley and onto the head of an open Kennedy but the shot goes wide. It should probably be 3-0 after that, in all honesty.
90+4 Mins: Kerr to Vine to Carpenter but Mohammadi gets a leg on the resulting cross before it can get to van Egmond. Corner for Australia, their 15th of the game.
Updated
90+3 Mins: Micah comes out and claims a loose ball. The Matildas immediately march up the other end and get Kerr in behind after a fantastic ball from Fowler but her chipped effort can only find the roof of the net.
Updated
90+1 Mins: We’ll have 11 minutes of extra time! That’s the downside of employing the Dark Arts as liberally as the Iranians have, I guess.
90 Mins: Catley again gets down the left and sends in a cross but Carpenter just sends it wide.
89 Mins: Ok, now the Twitter denizens are pointing out the historical relevancy of an Australia 2-0 Iran scoreline. Thanks, I hate it.
Wtf?!
— Death To The NSL (@DeathNsl) October 26, 2023
pic.twitter.com/SRGg97fBZ0
.
87 Mins: Two changes for the Iranians late on. Hasti Forouzandeh and Samaneh Chahkandi are on, HaMona Hamoudi and Zahra Sarbali are off.
86 Mins: Vine slides a ball forward for Kerr on the right side of the penalty area but her resulting cross finds nobody waiting for it.
84 Mins: One gets the feeling that Kerr’s goal might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back for the Iranian defence.
They’ve worked so hard and been so brave (and, yes, gone down as much as possible as well, Dark Arts) to keep their world-class opponents at bay only to watch Kerr, Sam flipping Kerr, come off the bench and find the net.
There’s an added sense of malice and energy around the most recent Matildas attacks.
83 Mins: Another substitution for Australia and that effort from Sayer will be her last contribution, with Kyra Cooney-Cross coming on to replace her.
82 Mins: Sayer tries to get in on the act after being played through but Khajavi is able to produce a super save. Fowler has a shot a minute later but it goes straight to Khajavi, who falls on it.
80 Mins: It had to be Kerr, didn’t it?
GET IN!!@samkerr1 doubles our advantage, scoring in front of her hometown crowd!!!
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 26, 2023
🇦🇺 2-0 🇮🇷 #AUSvIRN#Matildas #WAtheDreamState pic.twitter.com/XwhNZfZYYx
Goal! Australia 2-0 Iran. Sam Kerr ('78)
That’s what the crowd came to see! It’s the substitutes combining! Catley and Fowler string together a super one-two to work the former into space on the left and the Arsenal star promptly sends in a pinpoint cross that is fired into an open goal at the back post by Kerr.
Kerr will get the headlines but good lord, Catley is incredibly good at this football thing.
Scoring in front of your hometown crowd >>>
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 26, 2023
🎥: @10FootballAU#Matildas #WAtheDreamState @samkerr1 pic.twitter.com/slc5iiZu9D
Updated
And an email from Chris Paraskevas:
“Arguably a no-win situation for Tony G and his Commbank Superstarz tonight: a cricket score would have been met with cheers and eventual shrugs, but a narrow victory doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in those watching with a critical eye.
“The disjointed nature of the performance can be attributed to the sudden - and by Tony G’s standards, extreme - rotation of players. But is this ponderous display not simply a result / reflection of his stubborn refusal to use more players when it mattered: during the World Cup?
“An over-reliance on the usual stars creates all manner of problems tactically and in terms of morale (player politics etc.) But here’s the thing: it’s a packed house, most of the fans are young and impressionable, and the “brand” is stronger than ever. Everyone paid tickets to see Sam Kerr score a goal and FA and friends made a quick buck out of it all.
“The rest are all minor details.........unless it finishes 1-1 and it’s MCG, 1997 all over again (sorry, someone had to!)”
Chris, how dare you. I cried at the MCG that night.
Email from James Paraskevas earlier in the half: “There’s just nothing through the middle. The Matildas keeping moving the ball wide but by the time they’ve done that Iran have gotten back in shape. We look most dangerous off crosses and set pieces.”
74 Mins: And just as I try to put some respect on Iran’s name amongst the readers, Khajavi goes down again before Catley can swing in a corner – serenaded with more boos from the HBF Park crowd as a result.
73 Mins: Iranian players look like they’re out on their feet. The Matildas are one of the most physically gifted sides in all of football and it’s taking everything from their opponents to keep them at bay. Again, it’s not pretty football but when you consider everything in context you absolutely have to admire what they’ve accomplished thus far.
72 Mins: Kerr! No! Another corner in from the right snakes past Fowler and reaches Kerr but her first-time effort rises rapidly and goes over the bar.
71 Mins: Khajavi deserves massive credit for her play tonight. It hasn’t always been convincing but she’s done her best to command her area under a barrage of balls into the box and hold her defence together. And it’s still only 1-0.
69 Mins: Khajavi is down on the turf after colliding with Behesht as she came out to clear a Catley ball in. There should be no booing from the fans on that one, Khajavi took a scary looking knock there and looks to be in genuine discomfort.
69 Mins: Kerr heads the ball through for Vine and she rounds the keeper only to be forced wide and face a line of Iranian defenders getting back when she looks up.
68 Mins: Catley gets an early chance to swing in a corner. And then another one. And another one. And another one.
Iran are holding on and repulse them all – Khajavi going down ahead of the fourth one under the faintest of touches from van Egmond, hoping to see a yellow card produced in response.
Updated
65 Mins: A high-pitched explosion of noise rings out across HBF Park as the Matildas make their changes. Kerr is on, as is Catley and Fowler. Chidiac, Yallop, and Grant make way.
64 Mins: Fatemeh Amineh forces Vine out as she tries to get to the byline and it’s an Australian corner.
63 Mins: An Iran chance! Go on then! Zandi gets in behind and burst down the right flank but, on an angle, she can only drag her shot across the face of goal.
62 Mins: Iran’s change is completed as Chatrenoor is stretchered off.
61 Mins: Australia looks to be preparing a host of changes as Chatrenoor receives attention from the trainer. I can see Mary Fowler, Steph Catley, and Kerr preparing to come on.
Doesn’t feel sporting, really. To have unheralded Iran defend so well only to then watch a trio like that come on. Ah well, sport is ruthless.
60 Mins: The hour mark hits and Iran makes a change. Mohadeseh Zolfi will be coming on for Chatrenoor, who is down on the turf stretching out her right leg and hasn’t made a move towards the bench yet. Looks like a cramp.
59 Mins: Ball falls to Chidiac on the edge of the box but she can’t send in a shot with proper power. Nonetheless, Khajavi briefly spills it, which draws a murmur from the crowd.
59 Mins: Grant combines with Wheeler on the left hand side but Iran swarm and get it clear. Kennedy collects the loos ball and sends it back in but there’s no way through.
57 Mins: Yallop goes down and wins a free kick. The resulting delivery finds Vine at the back post but she can only find the side netting.
Gustavsson looks perturbed on the sideline.
56 Mins: More Australian attacks come up blank before a loud cheer goes up from the crowd. That’s right one and all, Kerr is up on the sideline staying limber.
53 Mins: Boos from the crowd as Basatshir is down. Iran also makes a change as Mona Hamoudi replaces Adeli.
It looks like it’s going to lead to a bit of a reshuffle, Behnaz Taherkhani comes over to double check the new instructions with the bench.
52 Mins: A rare attack forward for Iran after a wayward pass from Nevin. The ball comes to Chatrenoor on the edge of the area but the Matildas are able to get back in time to clear the danger.
52 Mins: The corner routine comes to naught as the ball ends up in the hands of Khajavi.
51 Mins: Wheeler gets into the box with a darting run. Her cutback takes a touch of an Iranian defender and almost goes in as it roles out for a corner.
49 Mins: Corner is sent in by Nevin, the punch away from Khajavi isn’t convincing but Tameka Yallop’s resulting effort meets a throng of bodies. It comes out to Grant who sends in a long-range shot that sneaks up on Khajavi but, luckily for her, goes wide.
48 Mins: Long diagonal is played into the Iranian box but it’s cleared away again. The Matildas have at time devolved into those kind of long ball, hit and hope type efforts in the past, we’ll see if they become more common this half.
Sayer has a shot deflected out for a corner moments later.
46 Mins: One change for the Matildas at halftime, as Alanna Kennedy comes on for Polkinghorne. One wonders if Gustavsson might consider throwing her up top again if his side remains blunted in attack.
Second Half
We are back underway at HBF Park.
Two other AFC Olympic qualifiers are taking place at the same time as this one. Spoilers. North Korea leads China 1-0 and Vietnam and Uzbekistan are goalless. Earlier today, South Korea beat Thailand 10-1, Japan beat India 7-0, and the Philippines had that aforementioned win over Taiwan.
And a bit more halftime reading, on the latest shakeup to hit the A-Leagues.
Some halftime reading, if you’re after something to do.
Updated
Meglomedia on the emails: “Goal came from Cortnee Vine getting behind the full back and crossing. Yet she’s had no opportunity to repeat this basic play — mainly because Ellie Carpenter keeps crowding her out. Understandable that Carpenter is playing so far forward (and she’s subsequently had the two best opportunities so far), but she needs to let Vine find some space to do her thing.”
Updated
The Subway Subs are back on the coverage! Will Unwin, are you watching!?!?!
Now there’s talk of the Iranians frequent trips to the turf as being unsightly. Somewhat torn on this. On the one hand, yeah, it doesn’t engender an entertaining contest but at the same time, when you look at the disparity between the two sides – both in resume and resourcing – chastising them for any kind of advantage they can find is tough to do.
The Iranians worked really hard in that half,
— Beyond 90 (@Beyond90AU) October 26, 2023
but you wonder just how much energy was expended to keep it 1-0. With the firepower the @TheMatildas have on the bench it's hard to see it being 1-0 at full time. #AUSvIRN
Updated
Andy Harper on the halftime show says that the Matildas look “overstimulated” as they ride the energy of the crowd and throw things against the wall in an attempt to find another goal.
The Australians will be wondering just how it’s only one goal heading into the halftime break. They had 82% possession across the opening half and were hitting on 84% of their passes compared to the 47% accuracy of their foes.
Well, as highlighted before kickoff, the biggest challenge has come from breaking down an opponents low block with all this time spent on the ball. It needs acknowledging that it’s easier said than done when Iran are getting so many players behind the ball but their dominance in possession has only resulted in six shots – and only one of those was on target.
Half-time: Australia 1-0 Iran
The referee blows to signal the end of a frustrating opening half for the Australians. It’s been all one way traffic when it comes to possession but just once through Carpenter has Gustavsson’s side been able to pierce the Red Wall of 10, sometimes 11 players behind the ball that is Iran’s low-block.
Updated
45+4 Mins: Grant sends in another cross from the left and its met by a van Egmond header! Only it goes wide…
45+3 Mins: The camera pans to assistant coach Jens Fjellström in conversation with Gustavsson on the Matildas bench. Fun fact, that duo and Swedish gaffer Peter Gerhardsson went to a Kings Of Leon concert together after the World Cup draw in New Zealand.
45 +1 Mins: There will be four minutes of added time to conclude the opening stanza.
45 mins: I’ve been told I can’t use the phrase exactly on the live blog, but most Matildas fans reaction to this opening 45 on Twitter looks like it’s boiling down to the age old Aussie Sokkah battle cry that rhymes with ‘boot harken’.
Updated
44 Mins: Iran has a throw-in on the right but it’s quickly won back by Australia, who begin another another adventure in poking and prodding their opponent’s penalty area.
42 Mins: Carpenter has realised that there’s precisely zero need for her to stay home given how deep Iran are sitting and she’s in and around things again as the Matildas launch forward. The wall of red shirts, however, remains strong.
41 Mins: Zandi comes to the touchline, looks like she’s copped a bloody nose.
40 Mins: Still waiting for play to resume, so the television director gives us a shot of Kerr on the bench. Can confirm she’s still there.
38 Mins: Polkinghorne wins a header over Zandi in the middle of the park and the latter goes to the turf holding her head. Play is eventually stopped so she can receive attention.
35 Mins: Iran clear away another Matildas move forward but Polkinghorne is in acres of space as she claims it with ease. Iran are well and truly committed to the low block.
Moments later, van Egmond tries to play through Vine but it’s another chance that goes begging.
33 Mins: Former Matilda says on the commentary Grace Gill that Chidiac is really starting to come into the game. Great minds.
32 Mins: Grant sends in a dangerous looking cross from the left but it’s punched away by Khajavi before it can get to Vine.
31 Mins: Carpenter should have a brace. Chidiac plays through the right back with a sublime pass only for the Lyon star to put her effort across the face of goal.
Chidiac is starting to show her class.
30 Mins: Zandi is the most advanced player for Iran when they’re defending but she’s dropping about five or so meters in front of the Australian back four, meaning that she’s not going to have much luck springing forward quickly if her side is able to counter.
29 Mins: This time it’s Wheeler with the corner, it’s punched away by Khajavi.
28 Mins: Nevin swings in another back post corner but its cleared away by Fatemeh Adeli, who goes down holding her tummy for a moment despite it being her head that got rid of the ball.
27 Mins: Nevin swings in the corner and it bounces through to Grant on the opposite edge of the penalty area. Chatrenoor puts it out for another corner from the other side.
26 Mins: Chidiac springs Grant down the left flank but her attempted cross is sent out for a corner.
25 Mins: Some contact between Polkinghorne and Zandi in the middle of the park leads to a free kick for Iran. It’s pumped forward and an unpressured Micah claims.
23 Mins: Repeated balls into the Iranian box by the Matildas but the mass of Iranian bodies getting back are able to repulse them repeatedly. The move ends when Khajavi jumped on a loose ball and smothers it.
22 Mins: Sayer tries to play Clare Wheeler in behind but it comes to nothing.
We’ll soon find out if that opening goal will open the floodgates.
21 Mins: There had been a few occasions when Behesht had been making contact with Carpenter and the callers were wondering if there were a few MiNd GaMEs going on. If there was, Carpenter might have put paid to that.
Goal! Australia 1-0 Iran. Ellie Carpenter ('19)
19 mins: Vine whips the ball into the box from the right and it makes its way to Grant. The left back shows a cool head in the confines of the box as she squares it for Carpenter to fire home for the game’s opening strike.
ELLIE CARPENTER!!
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) October 26, 2023
A super-neat finish, as Carpenter thumps the back of the cobwebs for @TheMatildas!
The Matildas have an early lead, 1-Nil over Iran!!
Watch live and free on 10, 10 Bold and 10 Play!!
📺 https://t.co/M14OJmndRV pic.twitter.com/ptUIGsaFEf
Updated
18 Mins: van Egmond tries an audacious effort from a long, long way out but it’s high and slicing away.
17 Mins: Zahra Ghanbari steals an inward ball from Carpenter but her attempt to counter is quickly thwarted. The Matildas attempt to counter the counter, in turn, comes up blank when Iran turn away Chidiac’s attempt to slide a ball in behind their lines.
16 Mins: Commentators noting that this sold out HBF Park represents the largest crowd that Iran’s women’s national team has ever played in front of.
14 Mins: Second phase from the corner ends with a van Egmond shot but the game remains goalless.
14 Mins: Chidiac gets in behind and tries to send in a cross but it’s deflected away for a corner.
12 Mins: Though nominally a wingback, Courtney Nevin, as she did at times during the build-up to the World Cup, is playing as a centreback.
11 Mins: Shabnam Behesht goes down and requires a bit of attention but she’ll be ok to continue.
10 Mins: Negin Zandi attempts to launch another counterattack for Iran but she’s all alone and swarmed by defenders.
8 Mins: Iran gets down the right and look to threaten Australia’s goal but the resulting long-range shot from Negin Zandi is a tame on that’s easily claimed by Teagan Micah.
Updated
7 Mins: Afsaneh Chatrenoor goes down appealing for a free kick but her appeals are unsuccessful.
5 Mins: Chance for Australia; Cortnee Vine gets to the byline and whips the ball in but Alex Chidiac and her 160cms can’t guide the header goalward.
Updated
5 Mins: A spell of time in possession for the Iranians which ends in their half, which ends when they pump it long to clear their lines.
4 Mins: As expected, the Matildas are monopolising possession as Iran sit back. Ten players get behind the ball for the side in red as they repulse another move forward by the Australians.
The players in this #Iran team can’t even go to stadiums in their homeland. Tonight they’re playing in front of a sold-out ground against the @FIFAWWC semi finalists, @TheMatildas #AUSvIRN #respect #WomanLifeFreedom ❤️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/U4OuaWPej0
— moya dodd (@moyadodd) October 26, 2023
3 Mins: Sayer is played in behind but her Charlie Grant can’t make proper contact with the resulting cross and the Australians are forced to reset in possession.
2 mins: Iran poke the ball away from Ellie Carpenter as she attempts to get up the pitch but she quickly gets back to win a throw-in.
Kick Off!
We are underway! Australia vs Iran! Olympic Qualifiers! Lesssgoooo!
And on the subject of Sam Kerr, she might be starting on the bench tonight but she’s still been entrusted with delivering the big pre-game speech.
An email! James Paraskevas is tipping a big 6-0 victory for the Matildas, with Sam Kerr to come off the bench and net a brace.
Not sure we’ll see Kerr tonight but if she does get on you’d have to think she’d be dying to fill her boots in front of her hometown crowd.
Both national anthems are observed and a raucous cheer goes up from the sell-out crowd as hype music begins to play and the players go through their final preparations. And on the subject of hype music, that reminds me, we’re free from the World Cup’s Unity Beat at last.
Elizabeth Hayden, a Balladong Wilman woman of the Noongar Nation, delivers a Welcome to Country. Always good to see this respected before games.
The players are making their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. They’re greeted by a fair old pyro show as they do. Wonder if that’s a point deduction for anyone?
So what should we expect from the football tonight? Given the rotation in the Matildas lineup and the less-credentialled status of Iran, relevant takeaways for when Australia’s women take on the likes of Japan and South Korea might not be too common but that doesn’t mean we won’t learn anything.
One of the biggest challenges for this Matildas side under Tony Gustavsson has been how they function when asked to break down an embedded defence with the majority of possession – a common theme for most Australian national teams at a senior and junior level.
With the Iranians likely to sit back in a low-block and defend, how the Matildas go about breaking it down should provide a bit of an insight into Gustavsson’s mindset and what he’s learned during his tenure.
I don’t know what this means but I’m guessing that the song selection has been nailed by the DJ at HBF Park.
theyre using ready for it by taylor swift as a pump up song for the crowd with no lyrics.... they know their audience...
— burke (@ejburke_) October 26, 2023
Updated
During his live updates of Australia’s win over New Zealand to claim the Soccer Ashes trophy, Will Unwin was quite tickled by the ‘Subway’ Socceroo naming rights partnership that Australia’s men possessed and took even greater mirth from the pundit team discussing the ‘Subway subs’ that could come off the bench at halftime.
The Matildas naming rights sponsors are CommBank, so there’s not quite the same level of amusement to be taken from that. Maybe something about which players have been of high interest with their performance. But Subway is also a sponsor of Australia’s women and the team did film a memorable advertisement for the World Cup featuring players taking enormous bites out of immaculate made sandwiches. If Will’s watching this game he’ll need to keep an eye out for that.
The coverage is also highlighting goalkeeper Zahra Khajavi as a player to watch for Iran, likely because she’s expected to be busy tonight. The 24-year-old plays for Bam Khatoon in the Iranian league.
Updated
On the coverage, Emily van Egmond gives the quintessential, give nothing away answer when asked about her role tonight: “Just to dictate the play. We’re here for three really important games. The most important thing is getting the result tonight and taking it one game at a time.”
Coach Tony Gustavsson is next to face the cameras and is asked about the rotation and after acknowledging the logistical challenges of getting players into camp and ready to go gives a vote of confidence for his starting XI.
“First of all it’s a very well deserved opportunity for these players. A lot of the players that are in good form and deserve to start this game.
The Swede also highlights that Amy Sayer will play as a false nine for this game.
What's the plan for @TheMatildas tonight? ⚽👀@niavowens talked with their coach Tony Gustavsson a short time ago.
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) October 26, 2023
Watch Australia take on Iran, live now on @Channel10AU, 10 Bold and 10 Play now!!
📺 https://t.co/M14OJmndRV pic.twitter.com/kNBLVj2YfY
Updated
The Philippines will take on Australia at Optus Stadium on Sunday in a game they’re not expected to win, but that big victory over Taiwan will give them confidence of potentially advancing to the next stage of qualifying as the best-second placed finisher of the three groups, moving into the two-legged playoffs to determine Asia’s two qualifiers for Paris 2024 alongside the three group winners.
Featuring South Korea, China, and North Korea, Group B shapes as the Group of Death but that also means that they might beat up on each other, opening the door for Mark Torcaso’s side to sneak through with a strong goal difference if they can get a strong win over Iran in their final game.
In other action from Group A, the Philippines has taken another step towards securing qualification for a first ever Olympic Games by recording a 4-1 win over Taiwan. The game was scoreless at halftime and the Taiwanese took the lead in the 47th minute through Yi-yun Hsu, only for the Filipinas to storm back thanks to a brace from Sarina Bolden (who is somehow still a free agent, seriously, wake up A-League Women clubs), Katrina Guillou, and Chandler McDaniel.
There’s a familiar feel to the Philippines even after the exit of former Matildas boss Alen Stajcic as their coach, with Western United coach Mark Torcaso juggling his A-League Women responsibilities with leading the side and former-Matilda Angela Beard a key contributor after switching her allegiance pre World Cup.
Dental plan....Bolden gets braces! 💭
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) October 26, 2023
Sarina gets her second for the night to notch up 🇵🇭's third goal.
Catch the final minutes of #TPEvPHI, LIVE on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/UPZ9w2VL0N
Some more insight into what to expect this week from Jo Kahn.
Of course, there are significant challenges for women’s football within Iran as well, access to stadiums for female fans the one that has attracted the most international attention. It’s something coach Maryam Irandoost has been fighting to address, as John Duerden detailed last year.
Iran enters this contest as significant outsiders, the least credentialed of all four sides in this group, ranked 63rd in the world by FIFA and never having qualified for an Olympics or World Cup.
Nonetheless, despite the likely insurmountable challenge that awaits them tonight, there have been some small wins for Iranian women’s football in recent years. Coached by Maryam Azmoun, herself a former player, they reached the Asian Cup for the first time back in 2022 and this is the second time in succession that they’ve advanced to the second-phase of Olympic qualifying. They downed Palestine 9-0 last time around, only to be bundled out after defeats against the Philippines and Taiwan, who, as luck would have it, they’ve drawn again this time around.
A decade ago, the team was forced to withdraw from Olympic qualifying at this stage when Fifa instituted a ban on players wearing head coverings during games – coverings which are mandated for women’s athletes by the Iranian government. That forced the team to the sidelines until the ban was lifted in 2014.
You might remember that earlier this year, Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup when she represented Morocco. Some athletes, however, are still barred from wearing head coverings on the sporting field, with France maintaining a ban on its Olympic athletes wearing headscarves heading into Paris 2024 despite criticism.
Amy Sayer is the lone member of the 22-player squad selected by Tony Gustavsson that wasn’t a part of the World Cup squad (Charlie Rule is also there but as a train-on) but she gets the start tonight.
By all reports, the 21-year-old has been performing very well for Kristianstads DFF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan so good to see her rewarded with a start.
Updated
Having said that, this is still a side filled with quality players that should absolutely be expected to get the win tonight.
Particularly excited to see Alex Chidiac given the opportunity to start after she was exclusively used as a substitute when the Matildas were 3-1 down in games during the World Cup. 23 in 23, gamechangers and all that stuff.
STARTING XI 🗒
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 26, 2023
Here's how we line up against IR Iran in our opening game of our #Paris2024 Olympic Qualifiers!
⏰: 7.00pm AWST
📺💻📱: @10footballau#Matildas #AUSvIRN #WAtheDreamState pic.twitter.com/k2W7hjzQTA
Updated
No Sam Kerr in the Australian starting lineup, as expected. While the marketing for this tournament has centred around her homecoming to Perth, the superstar striker is still recovering from a long-term calf malady and has also had to be managed by club side Chelsea at the start of the season. See Jo Kahn’s piece below for what Tony Gustavsson had to say about managing the minutes of his captain.
And there’s also no Steph Caltey. And no Caitlin Foord. And no Katrina Gorry. Amongst others. Indeed, only Ellie Carpenter and Clare Polkinghorne retain their starting places from the XI that took the field against England in the World Cup semifinal and even in that game, Polkinghorne was only starting because Alanna Kennedy was forced out with concussion.
Gustavsson had promised rotation and he’s absolutely delivered it.
Starting Lineups
Australia: Micah (GK), Nevin, Polkinghorne, Vine, Wheeler, Chidiac, Van Egmond (C), Yallop, Sayer, Carpenter, Grant
Australia Subs: Williams (GK), Cooney-Cross, Catley, Foord, Fowler, Kennedy, Hunt, Raso, Arnold (GK), Gorry, Kerr
Iran: Khajavi (GK), Amineh, Bastatshir, Sarbali, Chatrenoor, Behesht, Ghanbari (C), Taherkhani, Zandi, Mohammadi, Adeli
Iran Subs: Abbaspour, Shaban, Chahkandi, Yazdani (GK), Makhdoumi, Foroozandeh, Hamoudi, Zolfi, Tasavvori, Khosravi, Nafeei (GK)
Preamble
And we’re back. After giving the last international window a miss, the Matildas return to action for the first time since their paradigm-shifting Women’s World Cup campaign tonight. And what’s more, they’re doing so on home soil: kicking off the first of three qualifying fixtures for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris against Iran at Perth Oval, a few hours after the fellow Group A combatants the Philippines and Taiwan meet on the same ground for the opening fixture of group play.
It’s been just under three months since Tony Gustavsson’s side saw their home World Cup campaign end at the hands of Sweden in the tournament’s third-place game, that result following on from a 3-1 defeat at the hands of England in the semi-finals, and there are little signs that the Matilda mania that gripped the country across July and August is showing any signs of abating. All three games across this second phase of Asian qualifying – the first lot of games took place in April, with Australia receiving a bye into this round thanks to their high world ranking – have been sold out, with the side’s second fixture against the Philippines doing so twice after it was initially forced to move to the 60k seat Perth Stadium due to demand. As a whole, that means the side has now exhausted available tickets for their last 11 fixtures on Australian soil.
It’s been christened the Matildas effect. Television and attendance records were smashed by the side across the World Cup and given the way the nation fell in love with the side in a manner few could have even hoped for leading into the tournament, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that would argue against Sam Kerr and company being Australia’s favourite sporting team at this point. That’s certainly a claim that Football Australia chief executive James Johnson has been insisting on in recent times and given the record-setting opening rounds of the A-League Women competition, there’s been some carryover to the domestic scene as well.
Of course, there’s also some football to be played in the coming week. Perish the thought. Facing off with Iran, the Philippines and Taiwan for this phase of qualification, the Australians are expected to cruise through this round of qualification without too much bother given the strength of the squad assembled out west by Gustavsson but football games are played on a field of grass and not paper for a reason.
Kick-off: 7pm local, 10pm AEDT
