New coach watches on as Matildas smash record with second win

The Matildas have claimed a second big win in four days, but there were bigger things unfolding in the grandstand as new coach Joe Montemurro watched on.

New boss Joe Montemurro was in the stands on Monday night as Amy Sayer’s double spearheaded the Matildas to a second victory over Argentina in four days.

Montemurro had been unveiled as the 15th full-time head coach of Australia’s women through to the 2028 Olympics earlier in the day, just 24 hours after Lyon confirmed his departure halfway through a two-year contract in France, where he had led them to the league title.

Although not officially commencing duties until mid-June, he spoke to the players at the team hotel before attending the international friendly in Canberra, where he talked to interim chief Tom Sermanni pre-match.

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Amy Sayer of Australia celebrates scoring a goal. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

The 55-year-old then appeared an animated spectator in the early exchanges at a sold-out GIO Stadium but would have certainly enjoyed Sayer’s technically perfect finishes either side of La Albiceleste equalising during an entertaining opening period.

He must have liked what he saw as the crowd of 25,125 set a new record for the most watched women’s sporting event in the ACT.

Second-half events were far more one-sided, and despite the best efforts of Solana Pereyra in keeping out Michelle Heyman of Canberra United, Emily van Egmond was on hand to convert the rebound before home-favourite Heyman successfully rounded the goalkeeper to score Australia’s fourth late on.

Never Sayer never

Sayer slammed the door shut on a chapter she described as the “hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life” by grabbing her first international start in 549 days with both hands.

The 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury last April and only returned to club action for Swedish side Kristianstads DFF in recent months.

But after volleying an early opportunity over, Sayer showed no further signs of rustiness. Instead, she shone, netting a searching cross from Kahli Johnson - who backed up her debut goal with an assist, only to soon depart with a quad concern - and latching onto Caitlin Foord’s invitation to deliver a low strike across the goalkeeper.

Six switches

There were half a dozen changes to the starting XI that defeated Argentina in Melbourne on Friday, with Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League winners - Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and skipper Steph Catley - drafted in alongside Courtney Nevin, Natasha Prior and the sensational Sayer.

Foord carried her club form onto the international stage, laying on the go-ahead goal courtesy of a threaded pass before forcing the turnover Heyman struck from. She should have put her name on the scoresheet, only to slam Holly McNamara’s centre against the post.

For Prior, the transition was not as smooth and did not cover herself in glory when failing to cut out Milagros Martín’s speculative forward ball that allowed Kishi Núñez to pull the visitors level.

Sermanni gives ringing endorsement for Montemurro

Interim Tom Sermanni, ahead of his 151st and final game in charge of Australia, across three separate stints, gave his reaction to Montemurro’s appointment, which comes on the runway to next March’s home AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

He told Paramount+: “His coaching record is second to none. He is a proud Australian. I think he will take this team to a new level.”

Originally published as New coach watches on as Matildas smash record with second win