Five things we learned from the Matildas’ win over Chinese Taipei
Chloe Logarzo waited two years to make her return to national football, but it ended in tears within half an hour after a brutal head clash. Now, she’s set for another stint on the sideline.
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The heartbreak continues for Matildas fan favourite Chloe Logarzo who has been ruled out of the final match for the series after sustaining a concussion.
Logarzo made her first Matildas appearance since 2022 in Wednesday night’s win against Chinese Taipei but was forced from the field after a nasty head collision in the 25th minute.
The midfielder could be seen begging with doctors to let her continue but she didn’t pass the on field concussion test.
Football Australia have this afternoon confirmed the Western United midfielder hasn’t passed fitness tests for Saturday’s second game against Chinese Taipei.
Logarzo took to Instagram with a short statement.
“Everyone who knows me, knows how much this moment means to me ! It’s always an honour to wear this jersey, I soaked up every minute I could,” she wrote.
Melbourne City FC midfielder Laura Hughes has been called in as a replacement.
It will be Hughes’ first senior national team camp.
After a lightning quick start the Matildas had to slog it out with Chinese Taipei to hold on to their lead and take their first win of this international window.
It ended 3-1 – the first time the Matildas had conceded a goal to Chinese Taipei in 17 years.
The squad was a very different look with eight of the core squad heading back to Europe for club duties.
There were moments of disconnect and miscommunications but overall the Matildas put on a good show for the 26, 795 fans in the stadium at AAMI Park.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
LOGARZO’S DEVASTATING CONCUSSION RETURN
Chloe Logarzo’s forced concussion substitution was heartbreaking for the midfielder who has waited two years to get back on the field in the green and gold but it raises serious discrepancies about the game’s concussion protocols.
There is no doubt Logarzo took a hit. It left her on the field for a number of minutes. She could be seen begging the doctors to let her keep playing. But the doctors didn’t deem her fit to continue.
Flashback to the weekend’s A-League’s Women’s match when Melbourne City’s Taylor Otto had a huge head clash with her teammate while contesting an aerial ball from a throw-in. Within seconds Otto had a huge egg on her head – yet doctors put some tape on her head and cleared her to play.
The on-field concussion assessment is so far from the standards upheld by other sporting codes – like the NRL that have a mandatory 15 minute assessment period.
The PFA have been calling for a temporary concussion substitute that would allow a player to leave the field for an assessment and return to the pitch if cleared of a head injury.
It needs to be considered for the safety of players across all levels of the game.
FUTURE TALENT PROMISING
Interim coach Tom Sermanni implied this week that his predecessor Tony Gustavsson hadn’t blooded enough new talent or put the necessary focus on the future but many of the players who starred tonight were pulled into the squad by the Swede.
Clare Hunt, Sharn Freier, Michelle Heyman, Daniela Galic, Charli Grant and even Mackenzie Arnold were all given chances by Gustavsson.
Yes it was Sermanni who tipped Gustavsson off about Hunt’s form at the Wanderers but it was Gustavsson who took a chance on her.
He also gave Arnold her big break in the lead up to the World Cup, recalled Heyman to the squad in the lead up to the Olympics, gave Freier, named player of the match, her debut and named Galic in her first senior Matildas camp.
Gustavsson gave Grant her big shot when Ellie Carpenter was injured as well as Clare Wheeler – who is missing this camp with an injury.
The former coach was often criticised for playing his “experimental line-ups” that featured inexperienced players.
Sermanni was forced to use this inexperienced line up and extended squad due to Football Australia opting to play four games in 10 days and the core group only being available for the first week of the break.
Problems with the talent pool don’t start at the senior squad – they start much further down the track – back at a junior level. The Matildas u-17s didn’t even qualify for the World Cup. The U-20s failed to score a goal at this year’s World Cup.
Sermanni wasn’t wrong in saying there were issues in the development pathway – but the blame can’t be solely laid on the former coach.
Sermanni’s real intent on giving new talent a chance will be tested at the next international window when the Matildas take part in the She Believes Cup in America.
AGE NO BARRIER
Tameka Yallop is proving age is no limit to playing elite level football.
Yallop, 33, has been in top form for A-League’s club Brisbane Roar with three goals in the opening four games.
That form is transferring to the national team with Yallop a strong presence in all three international friendlies so far. She had a big task to do in the midfield in the absence of Katrina Gorry and Clare Wheeler due to injury against Brazil.
She lined up as a wing back against Chinese Taipei – proving she hasn’t lost her versatility.
Yallop created so many chances with her clever runs down the wing – not her usual position – but didn’t always have the personnel to capitalise on it.
Her work rate was second to none – there were few plays Yallop wasn’t involved in.
She finally got a deserved assist when Bryleeh Henry scored off her cross in the 76th minute.
There has been talk of some Matildas from Yallop’s era nearing retirement – the midfielder is clearly on a mission to prove them wrong.
NO ANSWER FOR LOW BLOCK
It was no secret Chinese Taipei would line up in a low block yet the Matildas seemed unprepared for it.
Once the visitors locked it down the Matildas’ ability to get a shot on target greatly dried up.
It is a common way for many nations, especially those with lower rankings to play.
The Matildas have struggled against it previously.
Sermanni’s tactic of putting two strikers in his line up with a stacked midfield didn’t quite deliver results.
Players were just too far apart from each other, or on different wavelengths.
Sermanni and his coaching team need to go back to the white board before the second game on Saturday.
FRESH DEFENCE
Clare Hunt, Daniela Galic and Charli Grant are all due to depart before the Matildas next game with Chinese Taipei meaning Sermanni will have to use an untested backline combination in Geelong.
He has plenty of talented options on the bench including Natasha Prior, Clare Polkinghorne, Winonah Heatley and Karly Roestbakken.
But the key to a successful defence is connection and these players, while familiar with each other through the A-League’s have had a very limited time to play together.
It could prove a major hurdle for the final match of the international window.
Originally published as Five things we learned from the Matildas’ win over Chinese Taipei
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