Sam Kerr has come off the bench to score the clincher in front of her hometown fans in the Matildas’ 2-0 Olympic qualifier win over Iran in Perth.
In front of 18,798 fans on Thursday night, Ellie Carpenter opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Kerr sealed the deal with her 78th-minute tap-in.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson warned on the eve of the match that he wouldn’t be throwing his jet-lagged stars into the deep end, and a glimpse at the bench proved those words to be true.
Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold, Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Stephanie Catley, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler all started on the sideline.
With the scoreline still just 1-0 at the 65-minute mark in a match Australia were predicted to win easily, Gustavsson brought on Kerr, Catley and Fowler in a triple substitution.
The move worked a charm, with the trio joining forces to create Australia’s second goal.
Catley combined with Fowler for a one-two before firing a low pass across goal, allowing Kerr to complete an easy tap-in.
Foord, Raso, Arnold and Gorry were among the unused substitutes.
The Matildas enjoyed 82 per cent possession in the first half, and a neat run down the right from Cortnee Vine helped set up the opener.
Vine’s cross made its way to Charlotte Grant, who passed it off to Carpenter to rifle the ball home for just her fourth goal in 70 appearances for Australia.
Ellie Carpenter opened the scoring for Australia.(AAP Image: Richard Wainwright)
Carpenter almost had a second in the 31st minute when she was played in and only had the goalkeeper to beat, but her shot from an angle was well wide of the target.
Iran’s players did their best to waste time whenever the chance arose.
Theatrical rolls on the ground were a common theme in the first half, much to the frustration of Matildas.
Adding to Australia’s frustrations was their own inability to finish off their chances.
Kerr received a rousing reception when she was brought on in the 65th minute.
The star Chelsea striker fired a 72nd-minute strike over the crossbar, but she made no mistake from her tap-in six minutes later.
Kerr had a golden chance to score again in the 93rd minute, but she couldn’t keep her strike low enough.
Sam Kerr performed in front of her home crowd.(AAP Image: Richard Wainwright)
In the earlier match, the Philippines came from behind to post a 4-1 win over Taiwan, firing them to the top of the group.
Yi-yun Hsu opened the scoring for Taiwan in the 47th minute as the underdogs dreamed of a an upset.
But a double to Sarina Bolden and goals to Katrina Guillou and Chandler McDaniel meant it ended up being an easy win for the Philippines.
The Matildas face off against the Philippines on Sunday and Taiwan next Wednesday.
Australia must finish on top of the group to guarantee passage through to the final round of Olympic qualifying in February.
Look back on our live coverage below.
Thanks Sam. See you on Sunday at 6pm ish Eastern time.
– Mark
Good run for the young players – Thanks for the blog Sam
– Mike
How good to see Sam Kerr score in front of a hometown crowd and for Ellie Carpenter to score for the first time in a long time, but credit to Iran for only conceding two given the gulf in quality between the sides.
– Adam
Melodramatics aside, well played Iran.
– Leo
Well done Iran. apparently lots of goals being scored already across this qualifying round in other groups… hoping Australia can get smooth and score big too in their next two. Mary F threading passes like magic, lovely to watch. Bring on Sunday!
– Big Ben
Key Event
The Matildas get their Olympic qualifying campaign off to a good start, with Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr getting on the score-sheet, but it was a much tougher task than perhaps what they were expecting.
Iran sat deep and defended like their lives depended on it, throwing themselves in front of every cross and pass aimed towards their penalty area, with goalkeeper Zahra Khajavi having a stand-out performance.
It was an experimental side from Tony Gustavsson, with several big names starting on the bench, and there was a noticeable lack of chemistry and cohesion among some of the newer players.
The young Amy Sayer was the most impressive newbie, providing some dynamism and spark through midfield, while Emily Van Egmond and Clare Wheeler offered some much-needed calmness and control.
Yet the Matildas struggled to find avenues to goal, with Cortnee Vine and Tameka Yallop having a couple bright moments, though it was Carpenter who eventually found the opener after a scramble in the box.
The jammy first half from Australia just made the quality of their World Cup stars even more obvious, with Mary Fowler and Steph Catley in particular adding a different level of class and choreography to the contest.
It’s always a challenge breaking down deep defensive blocks, which is something the Matildas have traditionally struggled with, especially in Asian competitions.
With two games left against opponents who could pull out similar tactics, Australia will have to be smarter and more patient in their attacking phases, and far more clinical in front of goal.
But in the end, a win is a win, and this was a game as much about shaking off the rust as it was getting the three points.
Australia will next face the Philippines on Sunday afternoon at Optus Stadium, kicking off at 6:10pm AEDT.
And I’ll be back on the blog to take you through it all!
Thanks so much for joining us tonight, and go Tillies!
Key Event
Steph Catley is standing over her second corner in quick succession.
It skims off the head of Kerr at the near post, but somehow clatters into Emily Van Egmond who’s just… standing in the way?
If that counts as one of the team’s few shots on target, I’m gonna laugh.
needs to be some credit to the Iranian keeper – she hasn’t stopped throwing herself at everything and definitely helped keep it close.
– Campbell
All the sitting-down aside, she’s absolutely been the reason Iran have kept this game to 2-0.
Negin Zandi – Iran’s most dangerous player – picks up the ball and drives forward, feeding it out to her winger on the left side.
Zandi is the only red shirt that makes her way into the box, surrounded by four Matildas, waiting for a returned cross.
But it never comes. The ball from her team-mate is poor and easily intercepted and cleared away.
Australia just keep attacking and Iran keep defending.
Ellie Carpenter had a chance before that went just wide, and Alanna Kennedy just had a header fizz past the wrong side of the post.
Iran haven’t done much other than throw their bodies in the way of every Matildas shot, which tallies 24 now, though only six have been on target.
It’s a lot, fam. My poor fingers are nubs.
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Mary Fowler always with some sublime touches!
– Leo
Crikey, we were right.
Hello Sam – I know it’s a qualifier and not a friendly, but it seems a tad harsh on the Iran to bring Sam, Mary and Steph on at the same time…
– Mike
Imagine being Iran. You’re probably exhausted, you’re a goal down, but you’ve had a couple glimpses of goal, you just need one little opening to be able to capitalise on an error…
…and then Sam Kerr comes on the field.
I’d just give up then and there. But that’s why I’m here tapping away at my computer and they’re out on the field!
The Matildas just keep on coming, working down both wings, trying to pierce passes through the middle to Kerr.
The noise of the crowd is noticeably louder now that Australia’s World Cup heroes are out there.
Fowler, Catley and Kerr have undoubtedly added more energy and class to the Matildas going forward. You can see their chemistry already humming away.
Won’t be surprised if we see a third goal scored by the end of the game based on the number of chances those three have already created between them.
The medics are working overtime
– Jack
There’s gotta be at least 10 minutes that have been used up by Iran’s players sitting on the grass, right?
That’s the last contribution from Amy Sayer tonight, who’s had a great game, I reckon. Would love to see her again when Australia face the Philippines on Sunday afternoon.
She’s replaced by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Oh my goodness, what a pass from Mary Fowler.
The Manchester City midfielder has been walking on air since coming onto the park, dancing between players and threading space-warping passes through lines.
She twists and brings an aerial ball down onto her foot balletically, seeing a run from Amy Sayer from deep midfield cutting through Iran’s defensive line.
Fowler anticipates the run and delivers a gorgeous reverse pass that takes out three Iranian defenders, right into Sayer’s charging path.
The midfielder shoots but Iran’s goalkeeper sticks out a strong left foot and it’s thumped away.
So nice to watch.
Key Event
AND IT’S SAM KERR! ON HER RETURN TO HER HOME-TOWN!
The substitutes made it look way too easy: a simple one-two between Mary Fowler and Steph Catley sees a low, hard Catley cross towards the back post right into the cushioned foot of Kerr.
That’s international goal number 65 for Kerr. Different gravy.
2-0.
She’s holding her head after that collision earlier, sitting back down in the grass as Catley is standing over another corner.
The crowd isn’t holding back now: they loudly boo the Iranian player as the physios come back onto the field to hopefully perform a concussion test.
Catley already looks pissed. She’s bouncing the ball around with her other hand on her hip.
The goalkeeper eventually stands up and gestures around to her players like nothing is wrong.
Annoying.
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