The Matildas have lost 1-0 in a friendly match against Mexico in Newcastle, in a manner revealing just how much work even the most experienced Matildas side must do ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Ellie Carpenter, who wore the captain’s armband in front of a capacity crowd of 23,167 at McDonald Jones Stadium for her 100th international, was celebrated ahead of kick-off alongside teammates Alanna Kennedy (for reaching 150 matches) and Emily van Egmond, now the most-capped Australian footballer. But even with all the pre-match accolades, the veterans could not convert against a young and hungry Mexican team who quelled Australia’s few chances and managed to convert one of their own in the 92nd minute.
Joe Montemurro had devised this test against a Latin American nation for his team ahead of the 2027 tournament in Brazil, now only a year away. He had warned Mexico – undefeated since 2024 – were better than their world No.28 ranking. He may not have expected the challenge to prove quite this difficult for his 15th-ranked side.
Had the Matildas finished the match the way they’d started, Montemurro would have left the first of this two-match friendly series satisfied they could play the possession-based style of football he so desperately wants.
But aside from several desperate shots at the hour mark, one wide from Hayley Raso and two from Sam Kerr – a backheel and a tame header – the Matildas could neither maintain possession nor convert any chances. And when 24-year-old Diana Ordonez found herself alone with no one but Mackenzie Arnold in front of her, she slipped it past the Australian keeper’s right side.
Had the first 15 minutes of the game been enough to go by, the Matildas should have been able to withstand Mexico for the 11th time in their 12 meetings. In cool but clear conditions in Newcastle, Australia dominated with more than 75 per cent of possession and, although there were no genuine chances on goal, it looked as if some were due.
Instead, Mexico got the first shot away, via an ominous 14th-minute strike from Nicolette Hernandez’s left foot that forced Mackenzie Arnold into dive. Although the chance was not converted, it did sway the match. Where moments ago the ball appeared to be covered in a glue any time it touched a Matilda, it now seemed coated in repellent.
When the half-time whistle blew, the Matildas were still ahead on possession, albeit at a slightly lower 65 per cent. In other measures, however, the sides were even, with five shot attempts each and one corner apiece. And in shots on goal, Mexico had two to Australia’s none.
Three substitutions made just over 10 minutes into the second half seemed to make a difference long enough for Raso and Kerr to change Australia’s attempts on goal from none to some. But as the crowd stopped their Mexican waves, the celebration’s namesakes continued their attempts up the other end of the pitch.
