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Matildas friendlies in Western Australia

Second half underway between the Matildas and Panama. No changes for either side.
 
We are basically second best all over the pitch.

Sluggish on the ball, indecisive when we have opportunities to advance, and getting beaten to the loose ball time and again.

Nash has made several truly hideous passes to opposition players and exposed us badly.

Panama are ball chasers and full press - which means we have to have loose players elsewhere - but we are not playing smart enough or with the vision to put the ball where they aren't.

The refereeing in both Panama games has been weak - in that professional fouls and hacks result in "that's enough" but nothing else. I am sure I saw one of our defenders trying to run the ball out getting her ponytail pulled. Not even a play on signal. The attacker who fouled our defender then ran into her as she was preparing to take the free kick was two blatant yellow card infringements one immediately after another but the ref just told her to stop.

We can't play when we are constantly fouled if we get a sniff - and that is both an indictment on the referees of this 'friendly' series and on our inability to manage the composure and clarity of thought that we need to beat the tactics.

Montemurro has got a lot of work ahead of him, but I agree he is seeing plenty about how individuals play under tight, physical conditions in order to put the team that he wants together.

Van Egmond has a good boot on her from corners and free kicks - unfortunately the rest of her play is not good enough for her to be included just on the back of that. She is too slow in every respect when reactions are important or pace is required.

Heyman also looks to be sluggish - having a few chances to do something in a moment and just getting shutdown before she can decide or implement whatever she did have planned. Her place in the team has to be one where we feed her the ball with only one defender on her because she does not have the pace to do more by herself.

As a team there have been quite a few times we have received a pass and taken so long to do something with it that Panama has been able to nip in from a fair distance behind and take it away. It is a symptom of not knowing each other's play that we have to stop and look where people are and it will get better once we get a stable team who can build off each other, but it is frustrating as all hell to watch our slow thinking and play.

Beautiful touch on by Sayer up that side line.
 
Panama making three changes, including one forced change. No changes yet for the Matildas.
 
that was a hard header, little power to work with so the direction had to be perfect despite getting a nudge before her leap
 
Michelle Heyman gets her brace, scoring in the 65th minute. Hayley Raso with the assist again. Matildas now lead Panama 2-1.
 
Two changes for the Matildas. Alana Murphy comes on for Amy Sayer. Second appearance for Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, replacing Hayley Raso.
 
Official attendance 10,657 for the last game in this international window at HBF Park.
 
Lineth Cedeño scores the equaliser in the 83rd minute with the Matildas down one player. Now 2-2 between the Matildas and Panama.
 
Two more changes for the Matildas. Remy Siemsen replaced by Adriana Taranto. Bryleeh Henry comes on for Holly McNamara.
 
There'll be seven minutes of second half stoppage time. Still 2-2 between the Matildas and Panama.
 
Charli Grant scores her second ever international goal in the first minute of second half stoppage time, and first since April 2023. Courtney Nevin with the assist. Matildas now lead Panama 3-2.
 
One more change for the Matildas. Michelle Heyman assumes the captaincy for the final minutes of second half stoppage time as Emily van Egmond is replaced by Chloe Berryhill.
 
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