Alanna Kennedy left with black eye from brutal hit with Matildas teammate

The Matildas have concerns after a massive collision between teammates left one player limping off and another seriously battered.

A sickening collision between two Matildas teammates in their 2-0 win in a friendly against South Korea has left one with a black eye and another with an injury concern.

The Matildas had the run of play in the first half against South Korea in Newcastle on Monday night in the second of two friendlies after Australia won 1-0 on Friday.

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But a shudder went through the crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium when defender Alanna Kennedy and striker Tameka Yallop collided in a case of unfortunate friendly fire in the 33rd minute.

It was a fairly innocuous incident, with the two players running into each other as they got caught on either side of a Korean player while trying to trap a loose ball in the midfield area.

Both Kennedy and Yallop were immediately in pain and play was stopped soon after the collision as the teammates lay on the turf in agony for several minutes.

The crowd gasped as replays showed Yallop’s head had connected with Kennedy’s face, leaving the defender with a nasty black eye.

Watch the collision between Kennedy and Yallop in the video above

Alanna Kennedy and Tameka Yallop clash heads. Photo: Paramount Plus.

Both players were down for several minutes. Photo: Paramount Plus.

Paramount Plus commentator Robbie Thomson said: “Ooh, big collision. That’s Tameka Yallop holding her knee I think.

“They’ve been in the wars, the Matildas of late. It looks like it was a knee. Was there a head clash as well? There is a big egg on that right cheekbone of Alanna Kennedy. That’s a big knock.

Former Matilda Grace Gill said in commentary: “That does look like a strong, heavy friendly fire between Kennedy and Yallop there. Both staying down, both very strong players.

“It looked almost like a cheek to cheek. Looks like a little split above the eye for Alanna Kennedy.”

Alanna Kennedy was sporting a huge shiner. Photo: Paramount Plus.

Kennedy suffered a brutal broken nose in a 2022 friendly against New Zealand and her reaction went viral after she spotted herself on the big screen.

“We’ve seen Kennedy have some big collisions before, breaking her nose in one game. They certainly put their bodies on the line,” Gill said.

“Her highlights reel of facial injuries she’s received while representing her country is getting bigger, unfortunately for Alanna Kennedy, she is a brave cookie. That one certainly looks like it stings.”

Kennedy checks on Yallop as she limps off the pitch. Photo: Paramount Plus.

Yallop’s right knee smacked into Kennedy’s body and Yallop winced in pain before being helped off the field with an obvious injury concern.

Paramount Plus sideline reporter Niav Owens said: “If that knee is playing up, that’ll be a real worrying sign for ‘Meeks’, who has been in incredible form in the A-League’s women of late. There’ll be plenty of people holding their breath as they watch these scenes play out.”

A lovely short ball from Emily van Egmond into the box found Mary Fowler, who made no mistake with her right boot to score the opener in the 43rd minute.

Mary Fowler celebrates scoring a goal against South Korea. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“It was a crowded penalty area but Mary Fowler looked like she had all the time and space in the world,” commentator Robbie Thomson said as the 22-year-old slotted her 16th career goal for the Matildas.

With Sam Kerr watching on from the bench in a Matildas puffer jacket, Fowler once again looked the most likely to find the back of the net in Kerr’s absence.

Kaitlyn Torpey was credited with a goal in the 63rd minute — her shot was going wide of the left post was deflected in by a Korean defender, giving the Matildas a 2-0 lead.

Torpey followed up some excellent work from Caitlin Foord, who had three shots at close range before Torpey’s efforts.

Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni was delighted with the result and the clean sheet.

“To be honest, not disappointing but I think we probably could have scored another couple of goals.”

Originally published as Alanna Kennedy left with black eye from brutal hit with Matildas teammate