The Matildas have continued their winning start in the Asian Cup group stage, defeating an impressive and defensively resolute Philippines side 4-0.
After sweeping past Indonesia 18-0 on the first match day, many expected Australia to show similar dominance against the 64th-ranked side on Monday, but the Philippines — coached by Australia's former head coach, Alen Stajcic — posed more of a physical and tactical challenge to the tournament favourites.
Despite almost a dozen chances, the Matildas were kept scoreless heading into the half-time break as the Philippines showed the benefits of their lengthy pre-tournament camp and the sourcing of the majority of their squad from the US-based college development system.
Many of the Philippines players matched the Australians for pace and physicality, while Stajcic's characteristic organisational style forced Australia to work harder than expected to create openings in the first 45 minutes.
But the Matildas found a higher gear after the break, thanks in part to the introduction of some young and fringe players, including a debut appearance for Sydney FC forward Cortnee Vine.
The scoreline perhaps did not reflect Australia's overall dominance, which included 73 per cent possession, 16 corners, 50 crosses and 33 shots.
Fullbacks Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter were particularly deadly, with the former delivering several clinical set pieces and creating the most chances of any player on the field.
Goals to captain Sam Kerr, Emily Van Egmond and Mary Fowler, as well as an own goal from the Philippines, ensured the Matildas have all but secured passage through to the knockout stages in top spot.
"We knew this was going to be a very different game from the opening game and I have to give a lot of credit to the Philippines. I think they made it very difficult for us," head coach Tony Gustavsson said afterwards.
"[But] we were able to stay focused and not get frustrated.
"You can tend to sometimes lose your head [when you dominate without converting].
"The players came in with conviction and confidence in the second half that they knew that, when the first goal comes, it'll probably [welcome] the second, the third, and the fourth."
Check out how the match unfolded in our live blog below.
Live updates
By Samantha L
FT: Australia 4 - 0 Philippines
It was certainly a game of two halves, that.
Perhaps because they were coming off the back of that absolutely dominant performance against Indonesia, it took some time for the Matildas to warm into this match against a much more organised, physically competitive Philippines side.
Despite creating a wealth of opportunities, their 64th-ranked opponents did brilliantly to keep the scores at 0-0 heading into half-time, often isolating Sam Kerr and forcing Australia to play hopeful long balls.
But the Matildas found another gear in the second 45 minutes, aided by an injection of vibrant young players, and were able to score four to take their Goal Difference up to +22.
And that'll be the major theme emerging in discussions afterwards: the glimpse into the future we received in the closing 20 minutes of the match that saw Mary Fowler, Cortnee Vine, Holly McNamara, Remy Siemsen, Courtney Nevin, and Kyra Cooney-Cross all on the field at the same time.
The Philippines next take on bottom-placed Indonesia and are looking likely to secure second spot in Group B, meaning they'll face either Taiwan or Iran in the next round.
The Matildas, meanwhile, next face Thailand, who posed them an unexpected challenge at the 2018 edition of the tournament, poking and prodding Australia's weaknesses. Neither side, you imagine, would have forgotten that turning-point game, which was arguably the beginning of the end for Alen Stajcic, who faced the full force of his old side tonight.
Thank you all for following along and for the engaging chat in the comments! I'll be back to live-blog that third and final group game in the early hours of Friday morning. Hope to see you there!
By Samantha L
Ellie Carpenter earns a silly yellow card for cheekily stopping a quick re-start.
By Samantha L
Fowler makes it four!
How about that technique from the young striker? A great demonstration of the Matildas' next-generation as McNamara, Vine, and Fowler were all involved in that play, with the ball bobbling out perfectly towards the D and Fowler absolutely leathers it into the bottom left corner.
A seventh goal for the Montpellier striker in her Matildas career.
4-0 to Australia in the 87th minute.
By Samantha L
It's a good-old fa***oned tale of two halves. Once Tony called in the cavalry for Australia, the outcome became straightforward. I hope the Malditas bounce back against Indonesia, though. One thing is for certain: Thailand are in trouble.
-JR
Not to give everybody PTSD flashbacks, but don't forget the 2018 Asian Cup semi-final against Thailand! They were leading 2-1 heading into stoppage time before Alanna Kennedy equalised in the 91st minute.
We didn't think they'd be much chop then, either...
By Samantha L
3 - 0 will improve the Matilda's goal differential - 1 million for, nothing against
-cautious
They'll be much happier with a clean sheet than with the number of goals they win by, I'd say. As we discussed earlier in the blog, it's well-known that Australia struggle defensively, and the past year under Gustavsson has seen the Matildas cop some pretty massive results against them.
If they're able to tidy up those errors and get through much of this tournament without conceding, that'll be one of the biggest wins they can take from the whole thing.
By Samantha L
Two more Aussie subs
Remy Siemsen and Kyra Cooney-Cross make their first Asian Cup appearances, replacing Sam Kerr and Tameka Yallop.
That means every player except veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams, winger Emily Gielnik, and defender Charlotte Grant have received minutes so far this tournament. Rotation is key in short formats like this, so it's great to see Gustavsson leaning into his squad depth.
By Samantha L
Vine just made me love her even more after what 1 minute of being on the pitch!
-Alison
She is such a talent, isn't she? Creative, blistering pace, brave, physical, takes chances that other attackers might not. That's the benefit of being quite young, I suppose; you've still got that flair and confidence about you.
She's been tearing it up for Sydney FC in the A-League Women's competition, which is what got her noticed by Gustavsson. And if these first few minutes are anything to go by, she'll be shining in green-and-gold for plenty of years to come.
By Samantha L
What a save!
Goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla makes a sensational point-blank stop to keep a towering Alanna Kennedy header out of the net.
3-0 to Australia with just over ten minutes to play.
By Samantha L
Is a 3-0 win a p*** mark for you Sam? Or would you expect 5+?
-Credit Saison
I think a lot of people, including me, were underestimating the Philippines.
It's difficult to assess teams you don't have much exposure to and who haven't played very much over the past year or two - especially during the pandemic.
To be fair to Australia, though, they probably should have converted at least two or three major chances in the first half. That wasn't down to the Philippines' work so much as the Matildas not being accurate enough.
On another day, we would've seen a bigger score-line. But full credit where it's due: Stajcic has turned this into a technically and tactically sound team with a core of impressive players. I'm really excited to see how they progress in the next few years.
By Samantha L
Chances galore!
Vine is immediately amongst the action, sending a delicious reverse-pass through the defence to find Mary Fowler.
Fowler's square-ball finds Yallop but her shot clatters off the underside of the crossbar and is cleared.
By Samantha L
It's debut time!
Cortnee Vine earns her first cap for Australia!
She joins fellow youngster Holly McNamara, who came on as a substitute against Indonesia, in a triple substitute for Australia, replacing Kyah Simon on the right wing.
Caitlin Foord comes off for McNamara, while Catley - who's been a stand-out - is replaced by Courtney Nevin.
By Samantha L
GOAL AUSTRALIA!
This one was a bit scrappy. A short corner this time finds Catley, who fizzes a low ball into the near post. The goalkeeper and defenders throw themselves every which way, but it falls perfectly to Emily Van Egmond who slams home.
3-0 on 67 minutes.
Australia are, as Chelsea boss Emma Hayes might describe it, "purring."
By Samantha L
LOL the ABC robot blocks *** even when it is in a word like p***. Twitter this ain’t
- Matt
Isn't it quaint? ABC is family-friendly even up late on mid-week live-blogs.
By Samantha L
Wouldn’t mind to say raso in this one… I think having played in some teams who sit in low block whilst being with man city would be effective.
Or bring in vine for her dribbling ability and taking in more players.
-Alison
It's #VineTime.
By Samantha L
What are your thoughts of transitioning to 3 in the back?
I say this because we have players like Carpenter and Catley who control the wings with their high work rate. Which will draw Foord and Simon into the middle and be another option alongside Kerr.
-Chipdaddy
Good question. As we're seeing in this game, a big part of the Matildas' ideal game-plan is giving both Catley and Carpenter the space to dominate their respective wings, creating overloads on either flank and delivering crosses into the box. In fact, the two full-backs are regularly two of the most creative when it comes to assists/creating major chances. But in order to facilitate that, you leave the Matildas more exposed at the back with slow defenders and gaping spaces. So Gustavsson has to compromise, which has sometimes meant seeing one full-back unleashed while the other stays back, and vice-versa. That flexibility is important, I think, and it also means we'll always have one quick defender as part of the three.
And, as you say, it creates moments for wingers like Foord, Simon, Raso, or Gielnik to tuck into more central channels and create overloads in front of goal.
That's the Utopian version of the Matildas. But that's not always how it works in practice.
By Samantha L
I think it's come down to you Sam, type 'Goal Australia' and it will happen.
-pre-empt
By Samantha L
Kyah Simon makes it two!
Simon nips in behind the Philippines' defence and chases in a looping Sam Kerr header.
That goal seemed to happen when nobody was looking - including me!
2-0!!!
By Samantha L
GOAL AUSTRALIA!
Finally - the Philippines' defence is broken.
And who else but Sam Kerr, rising highest on a corner to delicately deflect an arrow-accurate corner from Steph Catley into the far corner of the net.
1-0.
By Samantha L
Chance Aus!
Carpenter is given waaay too much space out on the right, taking a single good touch into the box but her whole-body-energy shot sails over the crossbar.
By Samantha L
I know this is almost cliché at this point, but EvE as the number 6 doesn’t work well. She’s better higher up the pitch and doesn’t get the play going from the base of midfield.
Too many crosses in hope - those aren’t chances created. Would like some more p***ing through Fowler into Kerr through the middle. And a few more attackers dribbling and trying to create that way.
-Lachlan
Agreed. Maybe we should set up a replay of this on the FIFA videogame and see how it shakes out.
