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Winonah Heatley was another emerging Matildas player to put in an solid shift, this time alongside Clare Hunt in the centre of defence where her calm presence and quality on the ball will be one to watch in the longer term.
We put a big focus on keeping the ball and avoiding the turnovers. There was definitely something on taking less touches. But credit where it’s due, their defence was hard to break down and they blocked everything. But we need to keep looking for meaningful passing, not just passing for the sake of passing.
Remy Siemsen is full of praise for new coach Joe Montemurro after being recalled. The 25-year-old attacker was impressive in her return to the side and capped off the performance with a helping hand in the Matildas’ goal.
I was just so grateful and excited to be back out there with the girls. I just wanted to take my opportunity on the field. I was so grateful to Ellie [Carpenter] behind him giving me plenty of instruction. I just enjoyed it.
Slovenia secure a draw with a first goal against the Matildas that their performance across two friendlies largely deserved. But as tends to happen all too often in football, the Matildas were a different beast tonight compared to their timid efforts on Thursday night despite the less impressive result on the scoreboard.
Fast movement with the ball and down the flanks set up multiple attacks as the link-up play was much improved. And while the Matildas might have lacked the cutting edge to make the most of their opportunities, there were otherwise positive signs throughout.
Here is Heyman’s opener, before Kastelec tied it all up in added time.
Full-time: Australia 1-1 Slovenia
Slovenia are on the front foot in the dying stages as they push for a goal that would snatch the victory from the largely impressive hosts. A clever free kick almost opens up a gap but Mackenzie Arnold collects just in time as the referee whistles for the close.
GOAL! Australia 1-1 Slovenia (Kastelec '91)
Slovenia get reward for their efforts with an equaliser in added time. Arnold gets a hand to the ball to knock a long-range shot onto the post but Kastelec edges ahead of the Matildas defence to blast the rebound into the back of the net.
90 mins: Three shots in a matter of seconds but a pair of saves from Mackenzie Arnold and a blocked shot in between only just help the Matildas hang onto their lead. Four minutes of added time to come.
89 mins: One last attacking foray for the Matildas as direct play out of defence ends with Gielnik charging forward on the right. The veteran attacker beats the a first player but she runs into danger for a blocked shot.
87 mins: Slovenia press hard for an equaliser as Nevin is called into action with a calm and composed block in the box. The ball stays camped in the Australia half but the visitors can’t quite create another chance.
85 mins: Holly McNamara rockets a shot in from the right that might have taken a deflection on the way through but flashes narrowly wide of the far past.
83 mins: Kyra Cooney-Cross waves away the option to exit the field with Alanna Kennedy stepping out of the midfield and Amy Sayer ending her tireless shift up front. Emily Gielnik and Alana Murphy enter the fray.
80 mins: Slovenia make two more changes as they search for an equaliser. The crowd at HBF Parks is confirmed as 13,115 in a pleasing increase on those that turned out on Thursday night.
79 mins: The Matildas are throwing everything at Slovenia but the visitors’ maintain their dogged defence. A clearance off the line is followed by a brave block to keep the margin to one goal.
76 mins: A couple more changes for the Matildas as coach Montemurro looks to find out what Courtney Nevin and Chloe Berryhill can offer as much as chasing the win. Ellie Carpenter has been outstanding with Remy Siemsen not far behind the Australia skipper, but both make way.
73 mins: The Matildas are not quite able to cash in on the move of the night as they swiftly transition from one end to the other but the final ball is a little too hot for Amy Sayer to handle and the moment passes.
72 mins: Slovenia give the Matildas a scare as an opportunity opens up in the box. But not for the first time tonight, Clare Hunt is on hand to close down the danger with a desperate lunge.
69 mins: Kennedy breaks Slovenia down in the midfield yet again and after some neat possession in the midfield the ball ends up with Raso on the right sideline. That’s the side that the Matildas have targeted all evening and there is unlikely to be any let up with Raso now on the pitch.
66 mins: Slovenia have made a pair of changes too, as they visitors search for a way back into the game. But even just a few minutes in, Raso and McNamara have reignited the Matildas’ spark.
65 mins: The Matildas make their first changes of the night – goalscorer Michelle Heyman makes way for Holly McNamara; and Kaitlyn Torpey steps aside for Hayley Raso.
63 mins: Carpenter drives into the box after a tidy bounce pass with Cooney-Cross. But after two attempts at a cross from close range are blocked, the ball dribbles out for a corner.
61 mins: A neat passage of play ends up with Amy Sayer in a one-on-one on the right and the Matildas midfielder streaming forward. But a diving tackle breaks it all down just as Sayer is about to sprint clear.
58 mins: Cooney-Cross whips in a corner with Matildas players all alone in the box but the Slovenia defence read the flight best and header the danger away. The visitors have certainly been dogged at the back.
55 mins: The Matildas are back on the attack and it is the impressive Remy Siemsen making the running down the right. The cross lets her down for a second time in perhaps the only part of the 25-year-old’s game that has been off the mark tonight.
52 mins: Slovenia respond immediately as Mateja Zver bursts forward only for Winonah Heatley to chase down the veteran and put enough pressure on the shot. Arnold collects without moving while stationed well clear of her call. A warning shot nonetheless.
Goal! Australia 1-0 Slovenia (Heyman '49)
The dam wall breaks as Kennedy wins the ball in the midfield, Siemsen offers the outlet on the right, then Carpenter collects running into the box and picks out Heyman in prime position for an experienced poacher.
48 mins: The Matildas will be searching to bring back the energy they had in the early exchanges but it remains hard to find a way forward with Slovenia parked in their own half.
46 mins: The second half is under way with no changes to the Matildas starting XI and Slovenia swinging one to bolster their midfield.
The stalemate at the break might not be as positive for the Matildas as the narrow lead that they held at the same stage on Thursday night. But the performance has certainly been much improved at least until the final ball.
New coach Joe Montemurro called out the need to be bolder and braver on the ball, and the Matildas brought just that in the opening 20 minutes in particular. Crisp passing in the midfield, high energy down the flanks, and three attackers working hard to keep the ball forward have all helped create a host of half-chances.
Captain Ellie Carpenter has been the main threat down the right, but the Slovenian defence was up to the challenge and Australia will still be searching for a breakthrough.
Half-time: Australia 0-0 Slovenia
The Matildas make a fast start at HBF Park as their pace was a threat on either side. But some determined defence from Slovenia means it is all square at the break.
46 mins: Heyman goes from long range for a third time without any luck as the keeper gobbles it up with ease. Slovenia finish the half sending a warning shot as Lara Prasnikar beats the line off a long ball but is deemed to be offside. That must have been a close call.
44 mins: Charli Grant beats her opponent on the left wing and bursts forward toward goal. But the long cross drops to an unmarked defender and Slovenia clear the danger again.
42 mins: The Matildas find some energy on the cusp of the break with crisp passing that unleashes their runners in the midfield. Cooney-Cross is keeping it all ticking over while Torpey brings the energy.
39 mins: The first real stoppage of the game as Kyra Cooney-Cross brings down Slovenia captain Mateja Zver.
36 mins: Slovenia win a series of duels in the midfield but the Matildas defence holds firm with their high line parked near halfway and Kennedy a calming presence in the middle.
33 mins: Amy Sayer tries her luck from distance but the ball is comfortably collected by Slovenia keeper Pasar. The Matildas were creating openings through their movement in the final third but the energy has dropped over the past 10 minutes or so.
31 mins: Michelle Heyman takes matters into her own hands after a lull in what has otherwise been a frantic opening. The veteran hits and hopes from outside the box but the Slovenian defence block another shot.
29 mins: Slovenia are sitting deeper now after the early onslaught from the Matildas. The hosts whip the ball from left to right and back again looking for a way forward.
26 mins: Slovenia get on the front foot for the first time since the opening exchanges but Torpey judges the high line perfectly to force a tight offside call.
24 mins: An exquisite first touch from Michelle Heyman off a long ball sets up the veteran for a one-on-one attack. But after she can’t find a way past the Slovenian defence a rocket from outside the box flies high and wide.
22 mins: All the damage is being done down the right as Carpenter is again involved this time picking out Amy Sayer running ahead of her. The attacker chooses to cross rather than take a shot with two players open in the box and she almost picks out Heyman but for a lunging leg from the desperate Slovenian defence.
20 mins: A moment of calm for Slovenia as the visitors get a foot on the ball and play with caution while taking a breather after a sustained period of Matildas attack.
17 mins: The ball is parked in the Slovenian half with the Matildas searching for a way through the gritty defence. A sublime through ball finds Carpenter charging into the box but at pace the captain is unable to control the cut back and it ends up behind Heyman. A lot of half chances being created, but the Matildas need to find a killer blow.
15 mins: The corner from Cooney-Cross picks out Kennedy standing alone at the top of the six-yar box but the defender can’t keep her header down. The Matildas are pushing hard.
14 mins: The Matildas move the ball through the midfield at pace again as Carpenter races down the right. The cross into Heyman running into the six-yard back is only barely blocked by the Slovenian defence.
11 mins: Slovenia transition at speed but the final ball is wasted and allows the Matildas to stream forward into the gaps that have opened up. No surprise to see Carpenter leading the race but after taking a moment to pick out her pass the cut back is intercepted. Australia’s pace and energy a huge part of the difference so far.
9 mins: A looping shot from Michelle Heyman is comfortably grasped by Slovenian keeper Melania Pasar. The Matildas are piling on the pressure with sharp passing and a bustling front line.
7 mins: The Matildas open up Slovenia with ease as Amy Sayer finds room on the right but fails to hook the shot far enough around her body and it sails wide of the net.
5 mins: Slovenia lock the ball forward with the Matildas unable to play through their press. A moment of panic in the box with Clare Hunt clearing while on her back and the ball ends up with Dominika Conc. After a neat first touch the Slovenian skies her shot. A let off for the Matildas and their first error of the night.
3 mins: The Matildas are on the attack down the left side as Michelle Heyman finds space in the box but is rightly called for being offside.
1 min: Slovenia play the ball all the way back to their keeper for a cagey opening.
Kick-off
Peeeeeep! Slovenia get us underway for the second women’s football friendly against the Matildas at HBF Park in Perth.
Slovenia’s national anthem Zdravljica and Advance Australia Fair are complete and the players are making their way to their starting positions.
Joe Montemurro wants the Matildas to be bolder and braver with the ball after their cautious performance against Slovenia on Thursday night. The new coach has named an attacking lineup with an experienced pair up front that should be looking to create space as much as holding up play.
It was a perfect game to learn and a perfect game to grow off,” Montemurro said on Saturday. “The key message was protecting the ball and just making sure we prepare with the ball a lot better. We can do it, we showed it. We just need to be more consistent and I suppose more brave with it.
The more we do it, the more we understand the important pass or the important situation with breaking a line. I’m sure they’ll be more proactive. When you say you want to play possession – and it’s a word that’s bantered a lot – it’s normal they do the safe things to keep possession.
Now we have to be smarter to say, ‘OK, we can prepare to go forward and be more proactive and break lines’.
The Matildas claimed a 3-0 win over Slovenia in coach Joe Montemurro’s first match in charge despite missing the likes of Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler and Tameka Yallop through injury, while Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry and Cortnee Vine are all on personal leave. Emily Gielnik, Holly McNamara and Hayley Raso put their names on the scoresheet on Thursday but Matildas keeper Teagan Micah was just as critical to the win with a clean sheet despite the performance being riddled with defensive errors and Slovenia having 20 shots on goal.
Catch up on more from the see-sawing encounter between Australia and Slovenia with the match report from Thursday night.
Emily Gielnik made a scintillating start with a goal in the third minute against Slovenia on Thursday night. The Matildas veteran was made to bide her time before returning to the squad but is now out to make the most of her latest opportunity.
Slovenia XI
Melania Pasar (gk); Lana Golob, Sara Agrez, Sara Gradisek, Kaja Korosec, Nina Kajzba, Mateja Zver (capt), Dominika Conc, Lara Prasnikar, Kaja Erzen, Izabela Krizaj.
Matildas XI
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold (gk); Ellie Carpenter (capt), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Charlotte Grant; Winonah Heatley, Kaitlyn Torpey, Kyra Cooney-Cross; Amy Sayer, Michelle Heyman, Remy Siemsen.
Joe Montemurro swings six changes from the starting lineup on Thursday night as the auditions continue. Mackenzie Arnold takes the gloves, while Charlotte Grant Kaitlyn Torpey, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Michelle Heyman and Remy Siemsen also get their opportunity from the kick-off.
Ellie Carpenter will lead the side again in the absence of Sam Kerr and Steph Catley.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the second women’s football friendly between Australia and Slovenia at HBF Park in Perth. The Matildas will be out to build on their winning start to coach Joe Montemurro’s highly-anticipated tenure that began with a 3-0 victory over the same opponents at the same venue on Thursday night.
Striker Holly McNamara joined the celebration with her first international goal that all but sealed the win in the dying stages before Hayley Raso put the icing on the cake just a minute later. But between Emily Gielnik’s opener in the third minute and the one-two punch that landed 83 minutes later, it was a shaky Matildas performance under their new boss.
The teething problems stood out but the long-term plan for Montemurro was also peeking through as the Matildas looked to control the game by playing out from the back and holding onto the ball in the midfield more than they have in recent times. That meant a lot of time in possession in their own half, as well as more errors than their coach would have liked, but should also lay a foundation to build on in the follow up with Slovenia tonight, before the Matildas take on Panama in Bunbury on 5 July and in Perth three days later.
Kick-off is at 6pm AWST in Perth / 8pm AEST. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news.
In the meantime, get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
