The Matildas have world No. 2 Sweden 4-0, with a stunning attack from Arsenal superstar Caitlin Foord that captivated the crowd of 22,065 at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
The 28-year-old has earned over 100 caps for Australia since she made her debut at age 16, admitting that the toll of playing all year round had exhausted her, and many teammates.
A “refreshed” Foord, whose long career has included stints in the US National Soccer League, A-League Women’s and her current home in the Women’s Super League with Arsenal, as well as a distinguished international career, said she enjoyed soccer like never before. before before.
“I’m having a great time at the moment, enjoying my football. I’ve always known I’m at my best when I’m enjoying myself,” she told reporters after Matildas’ victory.
A ‘refreshed’ Caitlin Foord joyfully celebrates scoring two goals for the Matildas against Sweden on Saturday afternoon in Melbourne
Foord scored two goals and secured another, in the four-goal victory, but it was her attack in the 51st minute that will please Aussie and Arsenal supporters the most.
After the ball went to the edge of the penalty area during a corner for Sweden, a clever heel from Hayley Raso found speedster Kyra Cooney-Cross, who dribbled to the halfway line, beating three defenders before passing a brilliantly weighted ball for Foord. .
Foord tricked Elin Rubensson with the ball seemingly magnetized directly to her boot, before skilfully sending a curling ball from the edge of the box into the top corner of the goals.
“AAMI Park explodes!” came the cry of the commentators as fans roared with delight.
It netted the Matildas two goals, with big wins over Sweden and Denmark in the past two months that seemed to make the ship appear after the Tony Gustavsson-coached side had a disappointing couple of years.
Gustavsson rested several key players – including Foord, Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Mary Fowler and Raso – for mid-season friendlies against Spain and Portugal.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has come under fire for his selection and tactics in recent years, but the squad now feels rejuvenated, somewhat justifying his approach
That decision came under fire after Australia beat Spain in a 7-0 thrashing, but Matildas’ coach felt vindicated by the newly charged Foord.
“A lot of them were almost fatigued, injured and burned out. They hadn’t had a low season in years,” he said.
“We said, ‘We have to give them time off. It may cost us in the short term, but it will help us in the long term.”
Foord explains that the joyous way the Matildas played football on Saturday was the result of simply being able to spend some time outside the game.
A superb attack from the top of the penalty area saw Foord score a stunning goal against Sweden
Foord (right) has been playing in England with Arsenal for the past two years and is in top form for the Super League powerhouse
“We don’t get many chances to play on home soil, so we want to enjoy every moment and make the most of every opportunity,” she said after the game.
“I just blame it (getting refreshed) on an off-season. Having time from the game, having time to refresh and miss the game a bit. That’s what I needed.
“So are many of us and the move to England has given us the opportunity to do just that.
“But on top of that, at a club like Arsenal – the level at which I train day in, day out, and the requirement to perform.
“In a squad like that, surrounded by so many great players, when you’re not in shape, you’re on the bench,” said Foord.
An ecstatic Australian skipper Sam Kerr thanks the crowd after the race
The utility, coming out of Sydney, certainly hasn’t spent much time on the couch lately. Foord has scored five goals in her last three caps, while scoring four times for Arsenal this season in the Women’s Super League and Champions League.
While he usually shoots down one wing, Foord has also benefited from operating more centrally alongside skipper Kerr in a 4-4-2 formation with Australia.
‘As central I think the ball is a bit more in front of the goal, and more opportunities to shoot and also connect with Sam. I enjoy it,” she said.
With a World Cup on the horizon at home next year, the turnaround in fortunes couldn’t have come at a better time.
Kerr scored the opener and rising star Mary Fowler also scored in front of a very healthy and excited home crowd.
Rising star Mary Fowler also scored a goal for the Matildas on Saturday
Australia’s third consecutive win is one of the most impressive achievements of what was a roller coaster ride under Gustavsson, alongside the dramatic quarter-final victory over Great Britain.
The Matildas scored their first out of a top-10 country since their 0-0 draw with the US in the group stage of the Olympics, and Sweden is the highest-ranked team to beat Australia since they prevailed in 2017 the number 1 in the US.
But the head coach refused to get overexcited despite the huge result, albeit in a friendly match, saying he was happy but not “over the moon”.
“We struggled for 30 minutes in the first half and were lucky not to be down 1-0,” Gustavsson said after the win.
“We started very well, the first five minutes, but after that we became way too stretched and passive in our defense.
“They played through us, they played around us and we could have been 1-0 behind. We made a tactical adjustment (after 30 minutes) that worked out well. So we closed it very well.
“The second half was one of the better halves we’ve played against top position,” said Gustavsson.
Australia broke through in the 37th minute when Foord shook off a defender outside the 18-yard box and found Hayley Raso on the left.
Over 22,000 packed into Melbourne’s AAMI Park for the match
Raso’s low, left-footed cross was brilliantly captured by a sliding Kerr, as a goal changed the game according to Gustavsson.
It was Kerr’s first international goal since she played against New Zealand in April, and her first against a top-20 opponent since she scored against Brazil in October 2021.
Foord’s stunning started a three-goal blitz in the second half, before Fowler’s deflected strike in the 73rd minute gave Australia an unassailable lead.
Foord then completed a nice team move just five minutes later to complete the defeat.
Sam Kerr (number 20) celebrates after sliding the ball from a cross
Cooney-Cross was fantastic alongside Katrina Gorry, with Gustavsson’s 4-4-2 formation winning, while centre-back Steph Catley also excelled.
“We feel good and we are playing the style of play we want to play,” Foord told reporters after the game.
“We want to be aggressive, and we want to bring it to teams, no matter who they are. We did that today and the results showed.’
The side now heads to NSW’s Central Coast where they will face Thailand in another friendly in Gosford.
The post Matildas beat Sweden by four goals, with goals from Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr leading the way appeared first on WhatsNew2Day.