Canada vs Australia friendly: Experiment goes wrong as Matildas belted 5-0

The Matildas struggled without many of their first team players in their starting line-up and Canada took advantage, leaving an Aussie football legend up in arms.

Cloe Lacasse #20 and Sydney Collins #2 of Canada look on as Amy Sayer #17 of Australia plays the ball during the first half of their friendly match at Starlight Stadium on December 01, 2023 in Langford, British Columbia. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images for Football Australia)

An untested Matildas side had a shock first outing going down to reigning Olympic champions Canada 5-0 in miserable conditions.

Matildas’ grasp on the game was as slippery as the Langford pitch from the start – with the Canadians as relentless as the rain.

The line-up, which featured just two World Cup starting 11 players, was little surprise given coach Tony Gustavsson had made it clear he planned to field a team of new faces for the friendly clash.

But many were confused by the move, including commentator Andy Harper who questioned what it actually achieved.

Harper went as far as calling the experimental Matildas team “cannon fodder” for the ruthless Canadians and that Gustavsson had “hung them out to dry”.

Former Matildas player and football expert Amy Chapman also had concerns about the decision. She said current stars like Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mary Fowler had blossomed because they were given the chance to play alongside experienced players like Katrina Gorry, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord – not thrown into a match against a top 10 side alongside mostly inexperienced players.

Canada were dominant against the Aussies. Picture: Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images for Football Australia

The match and result was not that different from the last time Gustavsson opted to run out an inexperienced national side against Spain which Australia lost 7-0. Gustavsson was heavily criticised for the move, especially as it was in the lead up to the World Cup.

He did attempt to get ahead of the criticism this time around, almost as if he had predicted the result of the match, making it clear his plan was to play an experimental side against Canada in a bid to unearth a few new faces ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Gustavsson didn’t back down from his decision post-match. He said the line-up was decided by load management and to test new players.

“This may be the only time before the Olympic qualifiers and maybe even the Olympics where we can test some players against a top ranked opposition,” Gustavsson said.

“You’re always going to be criticised for not testing new players or testing too many new players at the same time.

“This is not about throwing the players under the bus … we need to have a safe space in this environment where they can learn from mistakes.

“The biggest mistake they can do is not trying and they really tried tonight and that’s the best thing they can do.”

Despite the result Gustavsson said he had taken several leanings from the match.

Especially the potential of debutant Charlize Rule.

Rule was under pressure in the first 60 minutes of the game – but improved dramatically when the likes of Alanna Kennedy came on.

“She played 30 minutes at centre back, she hasn’t played that before and I think her last 30 minutes was very impressive,” he said.

The Matildas missed Sam Kerr and other stars in their defeat. Picture: Getty Images

Gustavsson said it was a one-off and that sometimes “growth and development hurt”.

“It’s completely different from the training game environment or in club land. Some of these players really needed to see it and now they can take this experience back and work and prep for the next time they come into this and know what high tempo international football is about.”

It was obvious the players had only had a limited time together going into the match, which looked more like a training drill for the Canadians – with the ball rarely passing halfway.

The Matildas inexperienced backline was put under pressure from the first whistle and struggled to handle the relentless onslaught from the strong Canadian side.

Canada’s Michelle Prince scored a brace in the first half – that could have easily ended 5-0 instead of the 2-0 it finished at.

The home side had an impressive 13 shots at the goal.

Australia, missing the likes of Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine and Sam Kerr struggled to create many chances in their final third – not getting a single shot away in the first 45 minutes.

Canada didn’t slow down in the second half adding two more to their tally within the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Adriana Leon added a fifth in the 64th minute.

Gustavsson went to the bench in the 65th minute bringing on some star power in Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy.

The change did give the Matildas a bit of drive and they managed to test the Canadian side and keeper for the first time all match.

Real Madrid forward Hayley Raso came on with 14 minutes left, replacing Tamkea Yallop.

The stars helped put an end to the goals but weren’t given enough time to stage a comeback.

Matildas will face Canada again on Wednesday at 2pm (AEDT).

Originally published as Canada vs Australia friendly: Experiment goes wrong as Matildas belted 5-0