The CommBank Matildas have continued their unbeaten run with a 3-2 win over world number seven Spain at CommBank Stadium tonight.
A scintillating first-half performance saw goals from Cortnee Vine, Clare Polkinghorne and Caitlin Foord secure Australia’s sixth win in a row that includes victories over three top European nations.
Captain Sam Kerr and head coach Tony Gustavsson talked to the media following the first-ever win over Spain, making it two consecutive wins to kick off the new year.
“I think it’s a good thing that we’ve copped two goals ... and we’re disappointed (to do so) against a top team,” Kerr explained.
“We’re happy with the win. When you come off the pitch, when you set high standards, you want to keep a clean sheet. At the end of the day we won - it would have been nicer to do it with a clean sheet.”
“We wanted to try different players, different things and different formations, which we did within the game,” Kerr said.
“At the end of this week, we can lift a trophy but we see it as finishing top of the (World Cup) group."
“This is an important game, it’s a really good test run for the World Cup - we’re not going to take our foot off the gas.”
Australia took a 3-0 lead going into the halftime break, with goals to Cortnee Vine, Clare Polkinghorne and Caitlin Foord. Spain clawed back two goals through Olga Carmona and Alba Redondo, with the latter scoring in second-half stoppage time.
“We need to be humble and not get carried away here,” Gustavsson said after the Cup of Nations victory.
“I think there are moments of brilliance in that first half, especially how we defended against a Spain team that is brilliant on the ball."
“When you concede in extra time it puts a little bit of extra emotion ... but we can’t let the last goal cloud our sight of the performance.”
“It’s an important reminder that we need to play all the way through to the last second."
The CommBank Matildas will be in action again on Wednesday night, as they finish their Cup of Nations campaign in Newcastle against Jamaica.
Match Day Three
Date: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, NSW
Match One: Czechia v Spain – 2.30 pm kick-off AEDT. Broadcast on Paramount+
Match Two: CommBank Matildas v Jamaica – 7.10 pm kick-off AEDT. Broadcast on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Tickets: Buy tickets!