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14 mins: The second friendly has been much more open than the first on Sunday which perhaps plays into the Matildas with their attacking lineup, though Panama look just as dangerous on the break.
11 mins: The Matildas lose the ball in the midfield just as they did too often on Sunday. Riley Tanner charges toward the six-yard box before taking the ball too deep as a cross finds a wall of green and gold defence.
9 mins: The Matildas hold firm in defence and then move the ball forward again at speed, just as Joe Montemurro has talked about over the past few weeks.
7 mins: The Matildas lock the ball in their own half but can’t make the most of their string of corners and half-chances for Panama tear away through Sherline King. The teenager is eventually chased down but has another chance just moments later. Already the match-winner from Sunday looks like being the main danger again.
5 mins: Remy Siemsen is next to direct a header toward goal. But the chance is misdirected and the attacker has it written all over her face that it was a wasted opportunity. A bright start for the Matildas.
3 mins: The Matildas pick up their first free kick in a dangerous area which is whipped into the box where Michelle Heyman gets a clear header away. The veteran is a long way out and doesn’t make the best connection. Hayley Raso tries to clean up inside the box but a timid cross if comfortably cleared by Panama.
1 min: Panama pick up where they left off in the first encounter with a physical challenge or two on the Matildas. Joe Montemurro said yesterday that the Matildas need to be better prepared for just that approach.
Kick-off
Peeeeeep! The Matildas get us underway as he hosts look to bounce back from a shock defeat in the second women’s friendly against Panama at HBF Park in Perth.
The national anthems are complete and we’re just moments away from kick-off. The Matildas are back in their familiar green and gold number, Panama are easy to spot after switching to a bright red.
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro explains his bold starting XI while speaking to Paramount. Remy Siemsen and Amy Sayer will play behind veteran striker Michelle Heyman, with Emily Van Egmond also looking to break the lines. Hayley Raso and Holly McNamara will offer their usual threat out wide.
We’ve gone a little bit more attacking tonight, playing with more advanced midfielders and our ability to get past their first line in the way that they press. Hopefully we’ll see advanced full-backs, so we’ll try to override their wide areas and their central areas with more attacking options.
The Matildas are out for redemption after suffering their first defeat under coach Joe Montemurro as teenage substitute Sherline King scored for Panama in the 59th minute and veteran striker Michelle Heyman fluffed a last-gasp chance to equalise.
Panama XI
Panama: Farissa Cordoba (gk), Hilary Jaen, Wendy Natis, Katherin Castillo, Ericka Arauz, Schiandra Gonzalez, Marta Cox (capt), Sherline King, Riley Tanner, Ana Ggabriela Quintero, Carina Baltrip-Reyes.
Panama back in a winning formula with just two enforced changes from the starting XI on Sunday night. Farissa Cordoba continues in goals after being called into the game in the opening minutes of game one while the match-winner in that contest, 19-year-old Sherline King, replaces the injured Desire Salazar. The Matildas might not mind seeing the back of Salazar and her tendency to make robust challenges.
Matildas XI
Australia: Chloe Lincoln (gk), Courtney Nevin, Clare Hunt, Charlotte Grant, Jessika Nash, Emily Van Egmond (capt), Amy Sayer, Hayley Raso, Holly McNamara, Michelle Heyman, Remy Siemsen.
Joe Montemurro swings the changes once again and this time he isn’t messing around with an ultra attacking lineup named to face Panama. Chloe Lincoln makes her starting debut with the gloves. Emily Van Egmond returns as captain after Hayley Raso started with the armband for the first time on Sunday night.
Sam Kerr is not yet ready to return to playing after sustaining a serious knee injury almost 18 months ago. But the Matildas captain has been marking her mark around the squad while joining in parts of training in her home town.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the second women’s football friendly between Australia and Panama, this time at HBF Park in Perth.
The Matildas are out to finish their four-match stretch of friendlies in WA on a high especially after falling to a 1-0 loss to Panama in Bunbury on Sunday. That marked the first defeat of the Joe Montemurro era and came after the Matildas earned a win and a draw against Slovenia in the coach’s first two games in charge.
Montemurro has not only been trying to evolve the game plan with more of a focus on controlling possession, but also taking a closer look at emerging and fringe players that are competing for spots in Australia’s squad at the Women’s Asian Cup and beyond. The Matildas will have another fresh look about them with Teagan Micah left out as a precaution after copping a blow in the first game against Panama, while Alex Chidiac, Emily Gielnik and Kaitlyn Torpey have left the camp as previously planned.
Kick-off is at 6pm AWST / 8pm AEST. I’ll be back soon with more team news. In the meantime, shoot me an email or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social with any questions, thoughts and predictions. Let’s get into it!
