England’s Toni Duggan and Australia’s Ellie Carpenter at Craven Cottage.Credit:AP
The scoreline looks excellent for the Matildas. A 1-1 draw away from home against one of the most highly ranked teams in the women's game, England.
But the reality of the match, played in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground, was very different.
To say that Australia was lucky to get away with a result in this game was an understatement.
England were by far the better side, and should have won comfortably.
Phil Neville's team had two goals disallowed and what appeared to be valid penalty shouts ignored as they had no luck at all in a dominant display.
England’s Fran Kirby, right, battles Australia’s Steph Catley.Credit:AP
Matildas coach Alen Stajcic continues to experiment and change his line-up in a bid to find the right blend and ensure he has sufficient cover in all positions in the run-up to next year's Women's World Cup in France.
But the team was on the back foot throughout this affair as they struggled to find any real rhythm and cohesion against their hosts, who had by far the best of the 90 minutes.
England ‘s Beth Mead evades Australia’s Steph Catley.Credit:AP
Fran Kirby put the Lionesses in front in the first half and such was their weight of pressure that they seemed sure to add to their haul.
But a series of controversial refereeing decisions and ill fortune meant that Australia was able to hang on, and when a team is only one goal behind it always remains a chance.
And with six minutes to go the Matildas got the equaliser when the two veterans, Elise Kellond-Knightt and Clare Polkinghorne combined.
Kellond-Knight, playing in her 100th game for her country, flighted a well-struck corner and centre back Polkinghorne was left unmarked to attack the ball and power a downward header into the net.
It was late, it was lucky, it was against the run of play. But the Matildas were delighted with anything they got from this game.
With eight months to go until the World Cup, Stajcic knows, however, that his team must improve across the board if it is to mount a credible bid to win the title.
This game, and the 2-0 loss to France at the weekend, show how big that task is.
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