Source : ABC NEWS
The team who wants it more will win.
It’s one of those sporting cliches that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when stacking it up against logic, as if you can will yourself towards a victory.
It was the mantra the Matildas repeated in the lead-up to the final, and you could see the drive, the desperation, the next-level desire to win oozing out of them throughout the Women’s Asian Cup final against Japan in Sydney.
Ellie Carpenter wanted it more when she fought and scrapped in every duel.
Ellie Carpenter was tireless throught the entrie game. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
Kaitlyn Torpey wanted it more when she impossibly dragged the ball back off the byline to then force a crucial corner.
Alanna Kennedy wanted it more when she looked poised to continue her goalscoring tear with a late header on target.
But the funny thing about football is that two things seemingly in contradiction can be true.
In this case, Japan wanted it more too, in the way it conjured up a wonder goal, and then defended for dear life.
And it was the visitors’ will that had the final say.
This is Japan’s third continental championship, adding to their wins in 2014 and 2018 where they also beat Australia 1-0. (Getty Images: Andy Cheung)
Wish upon a lucky star
Nadeshiko Japan had cruised through the entire tournament to this point.
It was beautiful, fluid football, which left everyone with mouths agape, wondering how anyone could possibly stop their juggernaut from rolling on.
The Matildas came closest to solving that conundrum.
They were the better side in the final, playing at their peak at the most crucial stage.
The first half was tense, fast, high energy, and just landing in Japan’s favour, thanks to a mind-boggling goal from Maika Hamano — probably the best of the tournament.
Maika Hamano’s stunning goal was the difference between the sides. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
But in the second half, the Matildas started to turn the heat up, they pressured Japan into turnovers and steadily built possession and territory, doing what coach Joe Montemurro had been asking of them all along: holding onto the ball and dictating terms.
They were not overawed by the world number six but wanted to make a statement that this was their turf and their turn to finally taste success.
The last quarter of the game was controlled chaos, in that the Matildas completely threw the shackles off and unleashed everything they could possibly muster at Japan’s defence.
On any other day, just one of their 16 shots goes in. Against North Korea, they only had two shots on target for the entire game, which were the two decisive goals.
Matildas defender Kaitlyn Torpey reacts to a near miss during the game. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
But against Japan, most of the shots either didn’t make it to goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita thanks to steadfast defence, or were dealt with comfortably by the ‘keeper, bar an excellent save to deny Kennedy’s header.
The record crowd of 74,397 was in a frenzied state of delirium too, reaching new levels of noise as the match wore on, wanting so badly to see Australia’s most loved sporting team finally claim an actual trophy to match that title.
The Matildas couldn’t have done much more, and Japan’s ability to absorb and resist it all is what proved to be the difference.
Nadeshiko Japan admitted it wasn’t their best performance, but good enough to win. (Getty Images: Noemi Llamas)
“We found a way to win the game, even if it wasn’t our best game, and we couldn’t really find our own rhythm,” Japan coach Nils Nielsen said.
“The character of the players, the way they never stop playing and they believe in themselves, it makes us perhaps maybe 10, 20 per cent better and that is one of the things that I really like.
“I can’t really say how blessed do I feel, I’m not a religious person.
“But I’m lucky, so I must be born under a lucky star.”
Trophy still within reach
The truest test of the Matildas’ character and spirit comes next.
It’s not an unfamiliar scenario. There were the 2014 and 2018 Asian Cup final defeats to Japan and the semi-final losses at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and 2023 World Cup.
But as each tournament passes, the sense of urgency increases.
This is the golden generation, the ones who haven’t won a trophy, despite being some of the best footballers Australia has ever produced.
And that is what hurts them almost as much as the defeat.
The knowledge that this was their best shot to finally add to that 2010 Asian Cup triumph, which remains the only major international tournament the side has won.
The World Cup in Brazil looms next year, and the LA 2028 Olympics beyond that, and player of the tournament Alanna Kennedy is keeping the faith.
Alanna Kennedy believes the Matildas can break their trophy drought. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
“[A trophy is] definitely still within our grasp but it is tough when another passes by and there’s no silverware,” she told ABC Sport.
“It’s a little bit disappointing but I feel proud to play for the Matildas and every single tournament everyone gives their all and I love being a part of this team.”
Montemurro too did his best to keep spirits high, having had his own impressive ride in taking the team this far after just 10 months in charge.
“This has been an excellent journey. We wanted to test ourselves against top teams, and our ability to adapt in tournament football,” he said.
Joe Montemurro says the players must continue believing in themselves. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
“Tonight was a real testament for me personally, because some of the things we’re trying to instil happen tonight against probably one of the best teams in the world.”
Montemurro’s job now is not only to continue his rebuild of the team tactically, but to allow the scars of this defeat to sink in, before erasing them.
“I said to them after the game, ‘You should be so proud to represent this country. You should be so proud of what you’ve done and don’t drop your heads’,” he said.
“They can’t drop their heads. They keep going forward now, because we’re at a very, very good point, a really delicate point to go forward at the next stage.
“I’ll be trying to keep the belief going, that’s for sure.”
