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Joe Montemurro had declared little interest in the potential role of goal difference. He was, he said, solely focused on winning, because winning would be enough to top the Asian Cup group.
But let’s just be hypothetical for a moment and imagine the Matildas coach did value the importance of scoring more and conceding less, and take a look at the Group A standings after Thursday night’s 4-0 win over Iran.
South Korea and Australia sit on an equal six points leading into Sunday’s decisive third match in Sydney on Sunday. South Korea have a goal difference of six and Australia five, and it’s difficult not to wonder what might be had they scored just once more here to make it even.
A draw, then, might have sufficed to top Group A, instead of the win they will now need. But hey, Montemurro says they are focused on winning, and in three days we will learn where that focus could lead.
Remy Siemsen and Mary Fowler at Gold Coast Stadium.Credit: Getty Images
Thursday was a night punctuated by Iranian-Australian protesters praising US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Iran team singing the Islamic regime’s national anthem instead of the silent defiance displayed in their opener against South Korea.
But it was also the night Mary Fowler scored her first international goal since her ACL injury, Alanna Kennedy bagged a brace and Amy Sayer delivered one of the most beautiful cross-cum-shots you have ever seen.
Iran defended gallantly – as they did against South Korea – but gallant only gets you so far against a front three of Fowler, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, who were tricky enough and supplied cleverly enough to finish with 30 shots to one.
It must be mentioned that this was also an evening of Kerr’s offside shoulder, Foord’s offside something or other, and Australia’s almost penalty.
Still, the Matildas had put the game to bed before half-time, setting the scene for five changes and three days of recovery before the big one at Stadium Australia.
With Kerr, Foord and Fowler gone and Hayley Raso, Remy Siemsen and Holly McNamara on, the attack lost some bite and could not conjure a fifth goal even with 11 minutes of injury-time. Raso may have also lost consciousness: twice in short succession she copped a point-blank clearance kick from an Iranian player to the head, an unfortunate turn of events that will put her in serious doubt for Sunday’s clash.
Hayley Raso leaves the field.Credit: Getty Images
Slippery would best describe the conditions of the pitch, slicked wet with the rain that hosed down Gold Coast Stadium and its 22,398 attendees during the early stages. It was sticky, too, and it suited Montemurro’s “messy” football well. Or, more accurately, the “controlled mess” he conducts.
There were signs of it in Fowler’s elegant movement to find Kerr, Foord’s quick-as-lightning tee-up of Emily van Egmond, and Ellie Carpenter’s constant looking for the lurking Kerr and almost first-half screamer – from the middle, if you don’t mind.
The first half brought 14 shots, six on target, and three goals, in a much-improved performance from Sunday’s rusty 1-0 outing against the Philippines.
Second-half substitute Fatemeh Pasandideh finally got Iran’s first shot away 45 minutes in, but misconnected and skewed it wide. And there her side’s tally remained.
Joe Montemurro.Credit: Getty Images
Game over. One-sided stuff … the Matildas got what they came for, which is a very strong win, one that could have so easily been by double the final scoreline.
Everything was better: the style, the end product, the pressure. The second half was a bit disappointing, but all things considered, Joe Montemurro will be really happy.
This sets them up beautifully for Sunday night’s showdown in Sydney with South Korea, the team who knocked them out of the last Asian Cup, for top spot in their group.
Another point-blank clearance goes straight into Hayley Raso’s head. This time the side of her head. And the player who tried to clear the ball, Mona Hamoudi, immediately signals to the referee that she needs treatment. She does not look good.
If she is concussed now, what does that mean for her involvement on Sunday? Not good things, I’d imagine. But how’s the luck? For that to happen twice in quick succession? That surely has to be her night done – and yep, it is. On comes Michelle Heyman for the final minute or so.
Australia 4-0 Iran, 90+9 minutes
And a really good effort, there, by the Iranian goalkeeper, to stop a fifth Australian goal and deny Remy Siemsen’s toe-poke from sneaking in.
Frustrating for Siemsen, who would have loved a goal there to push her case for more game time with Montemurro.
Australia 4-0 Iran, 90+3 minutes
Siemsen can’t get it across the line.Credit: Getty Images
Stoppage time is coming up. By the way, if you’re wondering what’s been happening on the field, the answer is: not heaps. This second half has been repeatedly interrupted by Iranian players requiring treatment, including their goalkeeper, which means everything has to stop.
And to wit: we will now have 11 minutes of stoppage time to make up for it all.
Australia 4-0 Iran, 90+1 minutes
So the crowd at Gold Coast Stadium is 22,398, according to officials. This was billed as a sellout, but the venue’s capacity is almost 28,000, and there are definitely empty seats.
The AFC might have the mathematical skills of FIFA, based on the track records of both.
Vince believes this is not a great turnout, but I was in Perth and, despite the bigger numbers at Optus Stadium, the glitter strip beats it for atmosphere.
It’s raining, too, and Australians get lazy when it rains.
Come at me, Vince, go ahead.
From Vince: No, Emma, I won’t go at you. I’m just flat about my former home and its inability to throw off the ‘sporting graveyard’ reputation. I reckon we should be packing out major tournament games for Australia’s favourite national team. I’m not angry, just disappointed.
This is safety in numbers. Can the security guards confiscate all these flags?
You can confiscate one flag, but…Credit: Cameron Atfield
We can only presume she has passed her concussion test, because Hayley Raso is about to re-enter the field. That’s some effort, given the ferocity of the clearance she ate.
Australia 4-0 Iran, 77 minutes
Hayley Raso has not been on the field long and she’s already in the wars.
She’s just copped an attempted clearance by Iran’s Golnoosh Khosravi to the face from point-blank range, immediately putting her on her back and prompting the referee to stop play.
Has she been concussed? Wouldn’t surprise me. Didn’t seem like she knew where she is or what week it is…
Raso gets a concussion check.Credit: Getty Images
Ellie Carpenter and Clare Hunt have just come off, and Steph Catley and Kaitlin Torpey are on to replace them in Australia’s back four.
So there’s the five subs, all made by Joe Montemurro, with just under 20 minutes left to play on the Gold Coast.
Australia 4-0 Iran, 72 minutes
Hunt hasn’t had a lot to do in defence tonight. Credit: Getty Images
