Matildas: Coach Tony Gustavsson pleads for patience after another defeat on path to home World Cup

The losses keep mounting for the Matildas on the road to the World Cup, but the coach has a strong message for the doubters.

Sam Kerr cut a forlorn figure after the match. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The patience from the fans and potentially even his bosses at Football Australia is wearing thin, but Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson is pleading for Australians to keep the faith in him and his project less than 10 months out from a home World Cup.

The 2-1 defeat to Canada in Sydney on Tuesday night made it back-to-back losses on home soil against the Olympic champions and a 13th defeat all up in 26 games since the Swede took charge of the national team.

The Matildas have also only managed one win against a top-20-ranked side under Gustavsson’s reign, which is leading to a rapid decrease in confidence of a heroic display at next year’s World Cup.

It’s a situation that should be monitored at the very least by the Football Australia board, considering the magnitude of the opportunity for a team that still has plenty of star power.

But Gustavsson is hoping his side’s performance in the first 45 minutes against the Canadians, in which they led 1-nil and should have scored at least one more, will increase the levels of optimism.

“I am and it might feel unfair to ask for that. They’re fair questions and I can see from the outside how it may look,” he said.

“If we look at the first 45 minutes, I hope that we saw some improvement in that we dominated a top team. I hope that can be looked upon that we were able to do that with six key players out.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson gives instructions to Sam Kerr. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)\

“Maybe a year and a half ago with key injuries if we played Canada, we wouldn’t have been able to dominate them like we did for 45 minutes. I don’t want to try and protect myself, but that’s the way I look at it.

“We still have a way to go ahead of the World Cup, meaning we need to put 90-minute solid performances together.”

Under Gustavsson, Australia has kept a clean sheet just once against a top-ranked side, in June 2021 against Sweden.

And after controlling the first half against Canada they were again exposed defensively as Manchester United attacker Adriana Leon netted a double to make it three goals in two games against the Aussies.

The Matildas coach again pointed to a lack of continuity at the back for the defensive woes.

“That’s the line we’ve been least consistent in for a year. I think we’d have between six and eight different centre backs. I would love to get some consistency and cohesion because when we have the back four together, I think we’ve been solid,” he said.

While Sam Kerr set up Mary Fowler for Australia’s opener, her influence was quelled hugely by the brilliant Canadian teenager Jade Rose.

Kerr had a tough night against Canada. Picture: Muhammad Farooq / AFP

The Matildas captain cut a forlorn and frustrated figure at full-time after another disappointing team performance from her side in front of a bumper crowd of close to 27,000 people at the new Allianz Stadium.

“I think it’s important that Sam doesn’t carry all the burden for this team. I know how much she loves this team and cares. We need to let her have the responsibility but not take the blame herself,” Gustavsson said.