How Matildas triumphed in World Cup opener against Ireland as biggest night flirted with disaster
A World Cup opening night that promised nerves and tension delivered them by the tonne, from Sam Kerr’s injury bombshell to an Ireland side intent on wrecking the party, writes ADAM PEACOCK.
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The near-50 year history of Australian women’s football has never been easy, so why should this have been any different.
A night that promised nerves and tension delivered them by the tonne.
A night set up for tournament debutant Ireland to play spoiler became just that.
An unforgettable night not for style, beauty or flamboyance, but for the fact three points were won to launch Australia’s home World Cup before a full house in Sydney.
All without the best striker in the world.
The plan for the Matildas on August 20 – the World Cup final – includes tears. Of joy.
Not the scene as the team walked out on July 20 for the opening game. Steph Catley suddenly the captain and Sam Kerr in tears, bawling as the reality of a seat on the bench for the biggest game of everyone’s lives hit.
All that planning, all those details, done with a little tweak in the lower leg of Australia’s biggest star. Meticulous plans went up in flames.
After the tears, Kerr stayed present, taking up the end seat on the bench, furthest away from coach Tony Gustavsson, who tried to control proceedings with his usual maniacal enthusiasm.
Kerr, like the record 75,784 fans in Stadium Australia, had no control of what was happening in front of her but every action had custody of her emotions.
Ireland had total control of the dangerous areas that Kerr’s replacement, Mary Fowler, tried desperately to operate in. Fowler had two chaperones in green, Denise O’Sullivan and Ruesha Littlejohn, who stuck to their responsibilities with the stoutness of a pint of Guinness.
The Matildas needed the break and calming words to reset a clear plan, evident minutes after the restart. Hayley Raso’s spearing run forward, something that the Matildas couldn’t accomplish in the first half, paid off by winning a penalty.
Catley stepped up. Took a deep breath. The calmest player in the team on the ball, the calmest person in Australia. Top corner, top of the stands rattling in delirium.
The Matildas bench exploded euphorically, including the stricken star. Kerr celebrated by hopping on one leg and punching the air, the most famous fan in the building.
Then plans got lost in the anxiousness of holding on to a lead and getting the hell out of the place with three points.
This was a night to be nostalgic about for Ireland too. Fifty years since their first-ever women’s international, this, their first World Cup. And once behind, they made life increasingly uncomfortable for the Matildas, who drifted away from their intent-laden start to the second half.
The game got stretched and stressful. Shots were blocked by the Irish. Crosses and corners dealt with by the Matildas rearguard.
In the end, Australia weathered a nerve-shredding final passage. 1-0.
Job done. For now.
Just before sundown on this record-breaking night, Matildas alumni, who once sold lamingtons to fundraise for travel to big tournaments, gathered at a function to celebrate the long, arduous path to a full stadium for a World Cup. They shed tears of happiness at the prospect of going to a game of football with the nation captivated.
And then Kerr, pre-kick-off, in tears of sadness.
The occasion got to everyone.
Yet for those still directly responsible for making this a night to tell stories about, calmness was found and with it the desired result.
This wasn’t a night for tears for those victorious Matildas, just relief. One week until the next, and Nigeria in Brisbane to do it all again.
Originally published as How Matildas triumphed in World Cup opener against Ireland as biggest night flirted with disaster
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