Matildas coach adamant best is yet to come from his team after opening victory

The Matildas were scratchy without superstar Sam Kerr, but the blowout of World Cup nerves is over and the campaign will get better.

Sam Kerr was sorely missed, but the Matildas got the job done. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Matildas know they have a long way to go if they want to be a serious threat at the World Cup and a lot could now fall on the shoulders of opening-match scorer Steph Catley after Sam Kerr’s shock injury.

Catley was the only Australian player to convert a penalty in a horror shootout four years ago when the Matildas were bundled out by Norway, and she again proved her value from the spot to score her team’s only goal in the 1-0 opening night win over Ireland.

It was a moment she knew she had to rise and scored what could prove a pivotal goal in the World Cup campaign.

“I just tried to look at it as another set piece, and I really enjoy taking set pieces,” Catley said after claiming the player of the match award.

“I picked a spot and hit it where I want to hit it and I try to block out the crowd as much as I can. I took a breath, focus and try to keep my mind clear, but obviously it’s a big occasion so once I saw it hit the back of the net, I was very relieved.

“I can see why strikers are strikers because that adrenaline is like nothing else.”

Steph Catley scores Australia’s goal from the penalty spot. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The coolly taken penalty led to raucous celebrations from the 75,784 strong crowd who went home dreaming big that this could be the year the Matildas go all the way.

That seems like a pipe dream at the moment, especially with superstar striker Kerr set to miss at least their next match with a calf injury after she was a late scratching for the Ireland game.

Losing your leading scorer is always going to be tough to handle, but there has to be a concern that the Matildas lacked a plan B without their main target on the park.

Australia dominated possession and had five corners in the first half, but they lacked polish and the aerial threat that Kerr usually provides.

Young gun Mary Fowler struggled to create any chances, but the positive is they were able to pick up three points knowing full well that they have a lot of improvement left in them and that they have the mental fortitude to handle the expectation of a nation.

They’ll regroup ahead of next week’s match against Nigeria who lack Ireland’s physicality but have the speed and unpredictability to cause problems.

“We know we can do better in attack,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.

Catley celebrates with teammates. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“We showed that in parts of our attack … and then at the beginning of the second half we played faster and had more movement off the ball and played with a bit more confidence.

“I hope that playing the first game of the World Cup – now that we’ve ticked that box – hopefully that can help our attack a bit more.

“We knew it might be one of those games where we just needed to find a way to win.

“I’ve been around in tournament football for long enough to know that sometimes it is those games where we just need to grind to find a way to win. That showed some maturity in this team.”