Chile put calculated challenge to Westfield Matildas' confidence

"Hopefully we get exposed," Chloe Logarzo commented ahead of the Westfield Matildas' long-awaited return to home soil. 

"It's not something that everyone likes to hear but if we want to be better and be the best for [the World Cup], we need to get exposed."

At a packed Panthers Stadium on Saturday, Chile certainly proved willing and able to provide a test of adversity.

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The South Americans, in spite of their modest ranking, were disciplined, desperate in defence and ruthless on their rare forward forays in the 3-2 upset.

That such a performance was possible from an improving team bound for the FIFA Women's World Cup will have come as no surprise to the Westfield Matildas, who were braced for a canny competitor.

Sam Kerr


"Anything can happen on the day so if we are not fully focused we could be in for a surprise," Elise Kellond-Knight warned during the week.

That may have been at the case at least on occasion as each of the visitors' goals arrived in preventable circumstances.

Alen Stajcic has an opportunity iron out those concerns in Newcastle on Tuesday night, where a swift response is necessary to restore confidence from an unfamiliar position.

It is not since a defeat to Canada at the Olympic Games in 2016 that the Westfield Matildas have lost twice in the space of three matches.

A fluent France side issued the first last month prior to the hard-earned draw against an in-form England in London.

As Logarzo explained, the Westfield Matildas invited these robust confrontations with a view to discovering more about themselves.

Now comes a test of their ability to put lessons into practice as the team seeks to restore the belief that will be essential in seven months' time.