Tokyo Olympics: Matildas v New Zealand result, match report
With one touch, Sam Kerr sent the Matildas rocketing into the Olympic medal spotlight. This is how they can survive a brutal draw.
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With one touch, Sam Kerr confirmed she’s back to her brilliant best and, with powerhouse Team USA looking alarmingly vulnerable, suddenly rocketed the Matildas back into the Olympic spotlight.
Arriving in Tokyo on the back of a five-game winless streak, the buzz had dimmed on the Matildas’ golden generation as they confronted the ‘Group of Death’.
But all that changed in the 20th minute against New Zealand, when Kerr played the link role between Kyah Simon and Tameka Yallop with a delightful flick-on to split the defence and lay on the opening goal of the 2-1 victory.
“If you look at that technical action that she did with that assist to (Yallop’s goal), with a brilliant finish, nice combination play straight from the training park that we’ve worked on as well,” Gustavsson said.
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“And that flick that Sam did and the finishing from Meks is beautiful goal.”
Kerr herself had been quiet in international football, going five matches under Gustavsson without a goal or assist despite a golden-boot-winning season with Chelsea this year.
But she followed up 13 minutes later with a pinpoint header as the Matildas put together their most clinical 45 minutes under Gustavsson – and gave hope that the new coach’s methodology is starting to take shape at exactly the right time.
“We know she’s brilliant with her head as well,” Gustavsson said.
“We’ve said from day one, it needs to be a collective attack, and it was the collective attack that won us this game, but obviously it’s good that Sam gets more involved in a game and that’s something that we’ve worked very hard on as well, to get her more on the ball.
“She’s a multi-dimensional forward but I don’t think she gets enough credit for her pressing game. I think she’s one of the best defensive forwards in the world.”
Kerr was excited to be back on the scoresheet, but quickly turned her attention to the challenge of taking down Sweden – a match that could seal Australia’s spot in the knockout rounds.
Sweden toppled the mighty USA in an upset that has shaken up Group G and the women’s competition at large.
“I would have obviously liked to score more and put the game to bed a lot sooner but we controlled the game,” she said.
“We let them in at times but the most important thing was the win. When you score as a striker, you’re always happy.
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“If we win the next game we almost guarantee ourselves to go through. So, the most important game is the next game, and we always knew that if we won today, we’d put ourselves in a good position to get a confidence boost and win the next game.
“The Sweden game (winning 3-0 over USA) just shows that anyone can beat anyone. It’s such an even game now the women’s football. Anyone in the top 20 can beat anyone, so there’s no one safe here, especially at the Olympics when it’s a fast tournament.”
Australia played out a 0-0 friendly draw with Sweden recently, but Kerr said that was unlikely to provide a strong form line for Saturday’s clash.
“(When) we played Sweden, but I think both teams were a bit sheepish, didn’t do what they actually would do (in the tournament),” Kerr said.
GUESS WHO AS MENACING MATILDAS BOUNCE OUT OF BLOCKS
Sam Kerr’s ‘goal drought’ is over, Tony Gustavsson has his first Matildas’ victory and Australia’s Olympic campaign is officially up and running.
The Matildas on Wednesday became the first Australian team to chalk up a win at Tokyo 2020, two whole days out from the Games’ opening ceremony, with captain Kerr dismantling New Zealand in a wonderful display that would’ve had the crowd on their feet — if they’d been allowed into the stadium.
The 27-year-old Chelsea star had gone scoreless in her past five games for the Matildas, but blew the cobwebs out with a magnificent first half in which she was everything for an Australian outfit that completely outmatched their trans-Tasman rivals.
The 2-1 victory leaves Australia second in the so-called Group of Death — but surprisingly behind Sweden, who stunned the world No. 1 USA earlier in the evening.
It was the Matildas’ most polished performance under Tony Gustavsson — and the first victory — as the new mentor’s attacking philosophy started to come together.
From the defensive unit — which looked rock solid until a late goal to substitute Gabi Rennie forced a nervy finish — to the slick midfield that quickly sparked counterattacking opportunities for Kerr and her threatening three, Australia were in complete command of the match from the opening moments.
Of course, Australia expected victory against New Zealand, against whom they’re undefeated for 27 years, and sterner tests are to come in the shape of Sweden and the USA.
But after four defeats from five matches under Gustavsson, there was noticeable improvement as the defence tightened up and Kerr’s brilliance was unlocked.
Australia opened the scoring through Tamika Yallop after just 20 minutes, with the midfielder thundering home past Erin Nayler to finish off some delightful interplay by Kyah Simon and Kerr, whose delicate flick had put Yallop through on goal.
Kerr then chalked up her 43rd international goal when she latched onto a corner from Steph Catley — ratting it home off the crossbar, and barely squeaking across the line, before getting the all-clear from VAR.
The flood of chances didn’t subside after the halftime break, even if the goals themselves dried up, as Kerr and Simon continued to wreak havoc on the Football Ferns centrebacks — only to be routinely thwarted by a stoic Nayler.
Before the match the Matildas posed for their pre-game picture with the Aboriginal flag proudly on display, before standing arm-in-arm on the halfway line as New Zealand’s players dropped to one knee to take a stand against racism.
Earlier, Group G was blown wide open as Sweden pulled off a stunning upset with a 3-0 demolition of the USA.
The victory leaves Sweden as the group’s heavy favourites, and will have an undeniable impact on the Matildas’ fortunes ahead of their own date with the world No. 5 on Saturday.
The incredible result puts added importance on the Matildas’ final group match, against the USA on Tuesday, which could now loom as an all-or-nothing shootout for second place — and a spot in the knockout stages.
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Originally published as Tokyo Olympics: Matildas v New Zealand result, match report
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