2 hours ago
2
1 of 1
7.22pm
The Matildas have played against the New Zealand women’s soccer team 50 times – the most games they’ve played against any opponent. The last time the sides met was in 2022 during a similar two-match series. Australia won both matches, winning 2-1 and 3-1 in Townsville and Canberra respectively.
In one of those matches back in 2011, also in Gosford, Caitlin Foord made – and scored on – her debut for Australia.
7.13pm
Here is how New Zealand are shaping up tonight. A-League Women fans will notice the absence of veteran Rebekah Stott from both the starting squad and the bench. Despite being nominated for the FIFA Women’s XI earlier this month, the Melbourne City captain didn’t receive a call-up to the national squad for this international window.
But keep an eye out for Indiah-Paige Riley instead, she should be New Zealand’s biggest attacking threat.
7.06pm
Alanna Kennedy won’t start tonight’s match in Gosford after receiving a red card last time out in October. Montemurro has also picked Mackenzie Arnold over Teagan Micah for a second match in a row.
It’s an experienced Matildas side starting this evening – likely an indication of Montemurro’s plans for the Asian Cup. Just swap out Amy Sayer for Sam Kerr and this could be our starting XI in the Cup’s opener against the Philippines in March.
6.48pm
6.42pm
In the lead up to tonight’s match Joe Montemurro has become increasingly ambiguous about whether Sam Kerr will or won’t play in Gosford. Having been rested by her club Chelsea in two consecutive games before the international window, Montemurro had at first dismissed any concerns that she wouldn’t play in Australia.
Sam Kerr training in Polytec Stadium on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
“She’s good, she’s good,” he said last week. “There was always going to be a period where she was going to be basically offloaded or rested because she’s come back from a long time out, and Chelsea have been great, and we’ve been monitoring it, and she’s ready to go.”
But this week, Emma Kemp reports that Montemurro offered a mere “we’ll see” instead. Left off the starting XI, find out what we know about any appearance from Kerr tonight by clicking here to read the full story.
More team news coming soon.
6.31pm
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Matildas friendly against New Zealand at Gosford’s Polytec Stadium. My name is Frances Howe and I’ll be helming the blog from Sydney while my colleague Emma Kemp joins us from the Central Coast.
With just two matches to go until the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, the pressure is on. A disappointing performance against England last time out, which saw Alanna Kennedy sent off inside the game’s first 20 minutes, has cast doubt over the team’s chances at the tournament next year.
But as Ellie Carpenter said after full-time, that match in October was a “game that we want to forget”. Moving on then… Kick off is at 7.40pm and will be streamed on Paramount+.
1 of 1
Loading
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
