Key events
Australia XI
Matildas starting lineup: Mackenzie Arnold; Ellie Carpenter, Winnonah Heatley, Clare Wheeler, Steph Catley, Kaitlyn Torpey; Clare Wheeler, Alana Kennedy, Mary Fowler; Hayley Raso, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord (capt).
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Speaking to the media on Monday, Montemurro was happy to put the loss down to much-needed experience playing against different styles before the World Cup.
“They went more direct and long and we struggled to go with it,” he said.
I put it all in context because this is what these games are all about. Different styles, different ideas. In my whole career I’ve only seen two teams that lift their fullbacks so high … I haven’t seen a team do that for a long, long time. We had to study it, analyse it and not get emotional about it.
My colleague Martin Pegan was on deck for the first game, writing that the Matildas paid the price for wasted chances.
Preamble
Jo Khan
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Matildas’ second international friendly against Mexico.
Saturday’s result seemed like a shock to the system for the home side, as they were caught with their guard down in the final minutes. Ordóñez’s goal was just the second time Mexico have scored against Australia in 12 matches.
That the Matildas reached stoppage time at nil-all despite dominating possession speaks to their ongoing problems converting changes in the final third. Which Caitlin Foord acknowledged after the game.
In the front third we just need to get some more shots, and the final pass needs to be better.
With the 2027 World Cup glowing temptingly on the horizon, I will be interested to see whether Joe Montemurro sticks to a similar starting XI with the aim to build on game one or start afresh and give some of those fringe players decent game time.
We are about to find out! Kick-off at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta is half-an-hour away.
Do send through any thoughts or questions to jo.khan@theguardian.com.
Let’s go!
