Familiar feeling as Tony Gustavsson’s makeshift Matildas show glimpses of potential in loss

BRISBANE, Queensland — The more things change, the more things stay the same. Australia showed glimpses of what could be, but still lost 1-0 in Saturday’s friendly against Canada.

Adriana Leon’s wonder-strike in the 11th minute separated the sides in front of 25,016 fans at Suncorp Stadium in what was billed as a blockbuster clash between the Olympic champions and the World Cup hosts.

Injuries and absences had decimated both squads prior to the match, however, giving the game an experimental feel to it. Canada had lost six players to injury, five of them defenders, and four of which — Vanessa Gilles, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence and Jayde Riviere — made up Beverly Priestman’s starting back-line in the CONCACAF W Championship final in July.

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However, the rejigged Canadian defence stood more than tall on Saturday. It marked Sam Kerr tightly, it kept Kyra Cooney-Cross and Emily Gielnik quiet for the most part on the wings. And whenever it was breached, keeper Kailen Sheridan was enormous, denying a bevy of Matildas chances to keep a clean sheet.

Australia, for their part, knew they would be without Ellie Carpenter. Kyah Simon wasn’t selected and Hayley Raso would need to be replaced in the squad, both rehabbing ankle injuries. The pre-match press conference then confirmed that Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Chloe Logarzo were also unable to play, while the likes of Tameka Yallop and Cortnee Vine were also no certainties to be involved.

All of a sudden the test Australia coach Tony Gustavsson and his staff had planned for wasn’t the test they would be getting. He spoke pre-match of the need to be adaptable, to roll with the punches, and be flexible enough to deal with change.

“If we adapt to change, we can look at it as a chance for us to actually see the investment of the depth in the roster that we’ve been doing for a year and a half,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to actually test that depth of the roster.”

And just to ensure the team really had to adapt, Alanna Kennedy went down just before half-time, grabbing her leg with a stoic calmness and a knowing nod. Whether or not the injury is as bad as first feared or her substitution was entirely precautionary, the fact remains that the Matildas’ centre-back stocks are seemingly cursed.

“The only thing I’ve heard so far is that there’s something with her hamstring,” Gustavsson said post-match. “That’s all I’ve heard. So I’ll keep it at that for right now and obviously they’re going to look at her and from experience, I know when it’s a hamstring, normally you don’t come back that fast as to a Tuesday game, but I don’t want to speculate but my experience as she most likely won’t play.”

Tony Gustavsson’s Matildas fell 1-0 to Canada in the first of a two-game friendly series on Saturday. Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Discussions have already begun as to whether or not a replacement player can be injected into the squad. Gustavsson also highlighted options within the current squad.

“But when it comes to depth with, like I’ve said, we have invested in these 18 months in options,” he said. “Courtney Nevin has played left-footed centre-back for us. Aivi Luik has played, and she’s, by the way, been phenomenal for Hacken in the Swedish league as of late. And so in that sense, we have some clear options in the back.

“But obviously, when you’re missing three key starters with Ellie, Steph, and Alanna, it’s going to be influenced somehow.”

And therein lies the crux of the issue. For all of the acknowledgement of the Matildas lack of centre-back depth, for every potential replacement, for every unfortunate injury, the options seemingly never grow beyond their current serviceable size. And consequently, the fear that one injury could be catastrophic and create a domino effect of square pegs in round holes never feels too far away. It’s a feeling that came to fruition at the 2019 World Cup in France and has existed long before that tournament as well.

Before the Kennedy injury, and the headaches it is likely to create for both player and national team, the original depth test in the full-back positions earned a passing grade.

Charlotte Grant and Nevin filled the respective openings created by Carpenter and Catley with Gustavsson lauding the opportunity afforded to the youngsters. He was particularly full of praise for Grant’s opening stanza.

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“If you look at her first half … it was only one single time that [Nichelle] Prince got a shot on goal and that was outside of the box,” he said. “Otherwise she neutralised her completely in that first half.

“In the second half when it started to open up … we got a little bit more vulnerable and they got in behind us and we know it’s one of the best transition teams in the world and obviously with Alanna going down as well, and the changes we did. But, in that first half, they actually didn’t get into our [box] one single time. It was two shots outside the box.”

Nevin was similarly doing a job before seemingly letting frustration get the better of her. She was lucky to be removed from the field via the substitutes board and not via a red card after a series of dicey challenges on the goal-scorer Leon.

Ultimately Australia will be disappointed not to have capitalised on their periods of dominance, those glimpses of patience, precision, and passing that show fans what this Matildas team could become. Conversely, the Matildas will be grateful Canada was unable to punish them further when they dominated, particularly in the middle stages of the second half.

Gustavsson’s description of the match as a “rollercoaster” feels apt. The highs, when the Matildas are playing well, are electric.

“We move the ball fast. We have a lot of interchanges. We break lines. We get into the final third and when we lose it, we’re really, really aggressive in our regain,” Gustavsson said.

“When we see those moments, I think you see who we try to be, who we want to be.”

The lows manifest as technical mistakes, a stretched defence, and speed of thought and speed of movement not always marrying up.

Gustavsson still has faith that there is time, albeit limited, to get everyone singing from the same song book, for those glimpses of good play to become longer and more consistent. A heaping dose of good fortune wouldn’t go astray either in keeping players healthy.

Regardless, Tuesday’s follow-up match in Sydney presents the next opportunity for these Matildas to bridge the gap between who they want to be and what they produce on the pitch.