Chile upset Matildas 3-2 in Sydney
Sometimes results defy statistics, but that will be little comfort to the Matildas after a shock 3-2 loss to world No.39 Chile that leaves their World Cup seeding in the balance.
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Update: Sometimes results defy statistics, but that will be little comfort to the Matildas after a shock 3-2 loss to world No.39 Chile that leaves their World Cup seeding in the balance.
For all the possession and the separation of 33 world-ranking places, mistakes and lack of execution cost Australia dearly at Panthers on Saturday, and their South American visitors capitalised to claim the first of two friendlies.
The home side’s only consolation was Emily van Egmond’s two penalties, but a first-half defensive howler allowed Francisca Lara to level, and from there Alen Stajcic’s world No.6 side never executed in the manner to which they’ve been accustomed.
Precious FIFA rankings points were on the line in front of 15,185, a crowd topping even last year’s win over Brazil at the same venue.
Stajcic had implored his team to rediscover the dominance that’s shot them into genuine World Cup contention in France in seven months’ time, but this loss did nothing for a potential seeding.
For all that, the Matildas appeared on track to triumph when they took the lead inside nine minutes.
“That’s out of our hands now,” Stajcic said.
“That will be tough now, it’s out of our control.
“We certainly had control of the game ... they had three chances in the game and they scored three.
“We gifted them certainly two of those and probably the third one as well. It’s a little bit disappointing but that’s international football, you get punished for errors.”
Thus it will go down as a remarkable upset for Chile, who’ll travel to Newcastle for Tuesday night’s rematch targeting a double scalp.
“This is huge for women’s football in Chile,” Chile coach Jose Letelier said.
“We have qualified for the first time ever for a World Cup ... the important thing is to keep this level.”
For all that, the Matildas appeared on track to triumph when they took the lead inside nine minutes.
A passage of possession left Chile out of shape and when Tameka Butt threaded a ball to Caitlin Foord in the box Geraldine Lleyton slid in for a desperate tackle.
Immediate appeals for a penalty were rewarded and van Egmond dispatched expertly from the spot.
Kerr, granted acres of space by Chile’s centre-backs, shot wide on the turn but couldn’t find the top corner, and before they knew it they’d ceded the advantage.
The Matildas have had precious few clean sheets recently and an underhit backpass from Laura Alleway ensured this would not be one of them.
The 28-year-old, given a rare opportunity with Alanna Kennedy on the bench, left Lydia Williams too far to run and Maria Jose Urrutia got there first.
Clare Polkinhorne’s ensuing clearance found the chest of Lara and Chile’s top-scorer lobbed them both for the 20th-minute equaliser.
The hosts’ self-afflicted frustration was compounded by Chile’s pluckiness in defence, and the missed chances soon racked up.
What didn’t help was the quality of Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Christiane Endler, who denied Butt and leapt high to tip van Egmond’s stab from distance over the bar.
The industrious Lisa De Vanna swooped and scurried and Ellie Carpenter got forward, and by the time halftime rolled around the Matildas had 10 shots to one.
It mattered little – three minutes later they’d conceded another.
Karen Araya’s free kick was only half-cleared by Alleway’s header and an unmarked Carla Guerrero was left free to execute a first-time finish.
Chile dug in to protect their lead and Kerr soon found herself heavily marked.
A clearly vexed Stajcic prepared to introduce Kennedy and Katrina Gorry for Alleway and De Vanna.
Gorry made an immediate difference and enjoyed late chances, and Chloe Logarzo was lucky not to concede a penalty after pushing Daniela Zamora in the back.
By the 90th minute, after two Chile players were stretchered off injured, the result was sealed.
Chile poured downfield and when van Egmond undercooked a backpass Yessenia Huenteo dribbled into the box and buried her shot in the corner.
Two minutes later Kerr hit the post and van Egmond forced Endler into a diving save.
Then, when Kerr was dragged down in the box, van Egmond sunk a second penalty too little too late.
Originally published as Chile upset Matildas 3-2 in Sydney
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