CommBank Matildas reign victorious over World No.2 Sweden
The CommBank Matildas have marked their return to Melbourne for the first time since 2019 with a 4-0 win, comprehensively defeating World No. 2 Sweden for only the second time in their history.
Two goals to Caitlin Foord, as well as goals to Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler led to victory in front of 22,065 ecstatic fans in the CommBank Matildas biggest ever-win against a top-5 nation.
There was much talk about how the CommBank Matildas would line up after switching to the 4-4-2 so successfully in their recent 3-1 win over Denmark. Coach Tony Gustavsson, playing against the nation of his birth, instead opted for a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Caitlin Foord playing as an attacking midfielder for much of the game. The midfield that had been so successful in the previous window, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry, retained their places and continued to heavily influence the game.
It was a decision that proved a masterstroke. While Sweden had their chances, this was no snatch and grab – the CommBank Matildas outplayed the Olympic silver medalists throughout the entire 90 minutes. It was a fitting way to celebrate veteran centre-back Clare Polkinghorne’s 150th game in green and gold.
Australia looked threatening from the beginning of the game. The best early chance came from a breakaway after a Sweden penalty, with Kyra Cooney-Cross breaking away and looking dangerous. Had she raised her head, she would have seen her captain Sam Kerr in acres of space ahead of her. Kerr headed wide from the resulting corner.
In these early exchanges Sweden always looked a danger on the counter. Jonna Andersson and Sofia Jakobsson in particular caused Charlotte Grant a number of problems on their left hand side. Sam Kerr’s Chelsea teammate Johanna Rytting Kaneryd hit the post, Madelen Janogy had a sight on goal that she skied over the bar, and Clare Polkinghorne was forced to clear the ball off the Australian goal line in the 19th minute.
However, if there is one thing that is inevitable in football, it is Sam Kerr. The CommBank Matildas captain prodded home a cross from Hayley Raso in the 37th minute to open the scoring. The team took this lead to halftime. The mood in the stadium was confident – but the first half was a very even contest.
The second half was different. Sweden came out of the blocks hard, no doubt encouraged by coach Peter Gerhardsson at halftime. Their inability to fashion a clear-cut chance would go on to haunt them.
Not long into the second half, Katrina Gorry blocked a shot from a Sweden corner. It came out to Hayley Raso, whose fantastic backheel touch put Kyra Cooney-Cross into open space. This time she was able to find Caitlin Foord. If you’ve watched Caitlin Foord lately, you knew what was coming – from just outside of the penalty area, she cut inside onto her dominant right foot and blasted a powerful shot past Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.
The two-goal cushion wasn’t enough for the CommBank Matildas to let up. Hayley Raso shot wide on the counter not long after, and the Australians were winning most of the physical battle in midfield. A third could’ve been added in the 70th minute from a corner, won by Sam Kerr and nodded onto Raso at the back post, but Raso was unable to position her body to steer the shot on target.
Mary Fowler’s introduction onto the pitch in the 64th minute had an impact, positioned onto the left wing instead the attacking midfield position that most fans are used to. In the 73rd minute, she added a third to the Australian lead, firing a deflected shot into the back of the net after Sam Kerr found some space on the break.
Caitlin Foord secured the result less than five minutes later, scoring her brace in the 77th minute. Substitute Emily van Egmond set up the goal with a neat assist.
The comprehensive victory was the highest-ranked nation the CommBank Matildas have defeated since the United States in 2017.
CommBank Matildas v Thailand
Date: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Location: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 7.30 pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+