Key events
Full-time: Australia 0-1 Mexico
The Matildas have paid a huge price for their lack of a cutting edge in the final third as Mexico caught them out on the break deep into stoppage time and Diana Ordóñez sealed a 0-1 victory for the visitors – just their second in 12 matches against Australia.
GOAL! Australia 0-1 Mexico (Ordóñez ’90)
Mexico snatch it in the dying stages as they overrun the Matildas’ defence with a stream of players rushing forward. Diana Ordóñez is all alone on the right to get on the end of the move and finish past Arnold’s outstretched right glove.
90 mins: The Matildas have spent much of this half looking the more likely to score but are suddenly clinging on with Mexico making a late charge. Three minutes of stoppage time to see if either side can find a breakthrough.
89 mins: Kerr bursts forward into space but is closed down before she can get a shot away. Immediately at the other end, Arnold saves the day with a timely touch off a cross across the six-yard box and Corral ready to pounce. Mexico fail to hit the target off the resulting corner even with a free header.
88 mins: Charlize Rule puts Matildas hearts in mouths as Mexico cross the ball into the six-yard box and her block sails off the top of her boot and narrowly over the crossbar.
86 mins: Montemurro takes one last roll of the dice with the clock ticking down as the Matildas head coach replaces Van Egmond with Chidiac, and Torpey with Nevin.
84 mins: 23,167 in attendance in Newcastle still waiting for an opening goal.
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82 mins: The tireless Foord sets off on another searching run down the left and to the byline with Reyes again giving chase. But the cross is blocked, almost like the Mexico defence could see it coming from the umpteenth attempt at the same move.
80 mins: After a lengthy stint in attack the Matildas are called into action in defence. Carpenter clears the initial danger off a counter but Diana Ordóñez comes closer to breaking the deadlock before an ill-timed slip saves the home side again.
78 mins: Fowler tries her luck from distance and while the shot is on target there is not nearly enough venom in the strike to test keeper Barreras.
75 mins: Foord dips into her bag of tricks as the desperation to unlock the Mexico defence continues to grow. But the rest of the Matildas are not on the same wavelength as a backheel from the edge of the box trickles toward the keeper.
72 mins: Mexico make their fourth and fifth – and final – changes with substitutions at both ends. The Matildas won’t mind seeing new faces in the Mexico defence which has been rock solid throughout.
70 mins: Charlize Rule is on for Steph Catley as the Matildas perhaps look to add more energy in their search for an opener.
68 mins: Carpenter runs almost the length of the pitch in her 100th international before Mexico defender Kimberly Rodríguez times her tackle perfectly and not for the first time tonight. The referee signals for a goal kick but that was more likely a corner, as Carpenter barely has the breathe to complain on the way back to defence.
66 mins: Kennedy charges down the left and cuts a cross back into a dangerous area. The Mexico defence stands firm again but there is more to come as Kerr and Raso have a half-chance each, while Van Egmond fails to make the most of the clear shot on goal from outside the box. A positive period for the Matildas who are ramping up the pressure.
63 mins: Kerr looks to turn provider as Torpey has a shot in the box blocked and Kennedy has a chance off the rebound. Kennedy is getting forward more now after rarely looking like matching her goalscoring exploits from the Asian Cup during the first half.
60 mins: Amy Sayer has been quiet this half and makes way for Hayley Raso, while Mexico call on experienced and in-form attacker Charlyn Corral to try to break the deadlock.
57 mins: Foord is back on the ball on the left and edges toward the penalty area but without her usual conviction as the Mexico defenders close in. A free kick is awarded as two Mexico defenders challenge Foord at once, but Van Egmand’s cross is cleared from the six-yard box.
54 mins: Oh my, Mexico verrry nearly score! Carpenter turns the ball over in midfield and Mexico unleash Montserrat Saldívar off a long ball rebound. Catley fails to clear the danger and slips over as the ball bounces kindly for the teenager to burst forward and shoot from close range, only to slice the shot high and wide. That is the miss of the night, surely, as the Matildas breathe a sigh of relief.
52 mins: The Matildas lock the ball in their final third without finding a way closer to goal. Fowler comes streaming through the last line but a heavy touch takes her and a Mexico defender wide. A cross and a clearance brings the ball to Van Egmond’s feet on the edge of the box but a skewed shot is off target.
50 mins: Crisp passing from the Matildas through Van Egmond, Sayer and Foord ends with a cross toward Kerr on the edge of the six-yard box. But there isn’t enough behind the pass and under pressure Kerr can only nod the ball down for keeper Barreras to collect.
48 mins: The fast start to the second half continues at the other end as Catley unleashes Kerr in space but the attacker is unable to squeeze her way through the Mexico defence.
46 mins: Mexico are immediately into attack as Reyna Reyes picks out Montserrat Saldívar testing the Matildas defensive line. But the teenager drifted offside in the buildup, even before striking the shot directly at Mackenzie Arnold.
The players are back on the pitch in Newcastle with the second half about to get under way.
Caitlin Foord has been involved in almost all of the Matildas better moments. The attacker has been able to pressure the last line but then too often attempted to do it all on her own when you’d hope such a familiar lineup would be in better sync with how each other wants to play. Mary Fowler has been relatively quiet but showed all of her class whenever she gets the ball at her feet.
But the lack of control in the Matildas midfield would be the greatest concern at the break for coach Joe Montemurro. Mexico have been solid in their low block and then, when they do regain possession, too easily able to play through the middle of the pitch. El Tri Femenil still have their in-form striker Charlyn Corral waiting to join the action, with it hard to see this ending in a stalement at least while both sides continuing to turn the ball over in risky areas.
Half-time: Australia 0-0 Mexico
It is all square at the break as the Matildas have failed to make the most of their dominant periods of possession with a lack of cutting edge in the final third. Mexico have been their own threat at the other end but likewise haven’t hit anything of note on target from only two shots.
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44 mins: The Matildas get a couple of shots away amid the chaos in the box on the brink of half-time, but the first is blocked by Mexico keeper Barreras and the second drifts wide. But the last few minutes might give Montemurro some fresh ideas for the second half.
42 mins: Saldívar has been the most dangerous of the Mexico attackers and again has her foot on the ball inside the penalty box. The Matildas quickly close her down only for Mexico captain Rebecca Bernal to take a shot from in close on the right side. The blocked shot bounces out for a corner that the Matildas are able to clear.
40 mins: Foord is back on the ball in the final third but yet again tries to do too much on her own and the move is quickly shut down. It feels too early to be desperately searching for miracles, but the Mexico defence is forcing the Matildas to try to come up with fresh ideas.
38 mins: The game is starting to drift along until Fowler takes a touch and pulls out a pinpoint pass to pick out Foord charging into the six-yard box at the far post. Mexico defensive pressure forces the Matildas attacker to get too far under the ball as the header flies off in the wrong direction and leaves Forod looking decidedly unimpressed.
35 mins: The Matildas pass their way back and forth across the field before picking out Foord in a dangerous area. But the attacker has no where to go from there and drifts back towards the middle of the pitch to eventually win a corner. Catley delivers a flat cross too close to keeper Barreras.
32 mins: Montserrat Saldívar takes on Ellie Carpenter one on one down Mexico’s left side in what already looms as an eye-catching matchup. The teenage attacker battles her way past the milestone woman to get a shot away. But it is always heading toward the wrong side of the near post as Arnold gets down low as a caution.
29 mins: Fowler tracks back to close down a Mexico attack as Foord is quickly unleashed down the left. She picks out Kerr charging into a more dangerous area on the edge of the box, as the forward spins and crosses for the onrushing Amy Sayer to run on to with only the keeper to beat. But the pass is a little behind Sayer who can only slam the ball into the post. That was a dazzling counter that just lacked finesse on the final pass.
26 mins: The Matildas briefly take back control in the midfield without looking to venture too far forward. But both sides are turning the ball over too regularly to build up anything of note.
24 mins: Mexico continue to chip away at the Matildas defence which has at least bedded in on the last line. This game has quickly turned.
21 mins: Sloppy play from Mackenzie Arnold trying to clear her lines brings more pressure on the Matildas defence. After a strong start from the home side, the last few minutes have looked especially shaky at the back.
18 mins: Mexico breeze their way through the midfield with Australia overcommitting in attack. Nicolette Hernández picks Montserrat Saldívar in the box but the attacker shoots wide of the near post when a shot on target would have seriously troubled Arnold.
15 mins: Mexico get a first shot of note away from the edge of the penalty area as Arnold gets down low to collect. At the other end, Kerr bustles her way to a strong position to get on to the end of a cross from Van Egmond but the header sails over the crossbar.
13 mins: Ellie Carpenter hasn’t had much to do in her 100th international match. The fullback warms up with a blistering run from defence to attack.
11 mins: The Matildas are in total control in the midfield with the ball rarely entering their defensive third. The hosts are just lacking the final pass to unlock Mexico’s last line. Another Matildas attack down the left runs into a wall in the box.
9 mins: Fowler opens up the attack on the right side and hits a delicious pass into the box for Kerr to run on to. The Matildas striker is under pressure as she collects while running away from goal and after a neat swivel is unable to get enough power behind the shut.
7 mins: Kaitlyn Torpey is the next Matilda to charge into the penalty box on the left side. The midfielder tries to pick out Kerr in a better position but the move is quickly shut down. It is one way traffic so far in Newcastle.
5 mins: Sam Kerr takes her turn streaming down the left. The Matildas appear to be targeting that side of the pitch. Kerr carries the ball into the penalty area and whips it into the dangerzone. Fowler collects and goes searching for space before the Mexican defence close in.
5 mins: Foord has another half-chance opening up in a similar spot on the left. But the Mexico defence are aware of the danger and close down the Matildas forward before she can swing a boot at the ball.
3 mins: Caitlin Foord sends a first warning across Mexico’s bow as the Matildas attacker drifts in off the left to collect the ball inside the box. A clever first touch opens up some space but the shot is blocked.
1 min: The Matildas have plenty of time on the ball in the opening stanza with Mexico content to sit back.
Kick-off
Peeeeeep! The Matildas and Mexico get under way in their women’s football friendly at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
The Mexico national anthem, known in some quarters as “Mexicans, at the Cry of War”, rings out at McDonald Jones Stadium with Advance Australia Fair up next. We’re just a couple of minutes away from kick-off.
Ellie Carpenter leads the Matildas tonight in their friendly against Newcastle as she reaches 100 international caps while aged at a mere 26 years. The fullback from Cowra in New South Wales is one of the second youngest Australian woman to achieve the feat, and the 18th overall.
The Matildas seem to have captured the imagination once again during their run to the Women’s Asian Cup final in March with this friendly against Mexico in Newcastle sold out. It probably helps that coach Joe Montemurro has selected a strong squad and backed that up by naming a starting XI that includes stalwarts Kerr, Fowler, Foord, Carpenter, Catley, Van Egmond, Kennedy and Arnold.
Mexico XI
El Tri Femenil: Esthefanny Barreras (gk), Reyna Reyes, Greta Espinoza, Nicolette Hernández, Kimberly Rodríguez, Rebecca Bernal (capt), Alexia Delgado, Nancy Antonio, María Sánchez, Kiana Palacios, Montserrat Saldívar.
Mexico coach Pedro López turns to a mix of experienced players and emerging talents as the side sets out to reach their first World Cup since 2015. Esthefanny Barreras adds experience between the posts, while Mackenzie Arnold’s Portland Thorns teammate Reyna Reyes adds strength in defence.
In a pre-game boost for the Matildas, if not Mexico, in-form striker Charlyn Corral is named on the bench.
Matildas XI
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter (capt), Steph Catley, Winonah Heatley, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily Van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy, Amy Sayer, Caitlin Foord, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler.
Ellie Carpenter leads the side while becoming the 18th Australian woman to reach 100 international caps. Mary Fowler also returns after claiming Women’s Super League glory with Manchester City, as coach Joe Montemurro calls on the dynamic duo who missed the Fifa Series friendlies against Malawi and Kenya.
Sam Kerr will lead the line after playing her final game for Chelsea, while Steph Catley has recovered from a calf injury and her Arsenal teammate Caitlin Foord edges closer to the 150-cap mark that she can now reach when playing against Mexico in Sydney on Tuesday.
Midfielders Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry, defenders Clare Hunt and Charli Grant, and veterans Tameka Yallop and Michelle Heyman are among the notable absentees from the squad.
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Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro said on Friday that he wants to use the two friendlies against Mexico as a key step in preparing to face different sorts of opponents at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
It was very important that we found all different types of styles that we would possibly come up against in a World Cup scenario. They’re a talented team that has done very well, both in the rankings, but more importantly, in their nation. Their league is growing, and there’s a lot of investment, so they’re a top team. Their ranking doesn’t mimic where they are – they’re definitely a top 20 team, Mexico.
Their style is one we really need to play against – a Latin American sort of team that is very good in possession, but also very good from a physical perspective. For us, it is a strategic buildup into the World Cup, and all our windows now are strategic in regard to the styles of teams. It’s very important for us to continue to play our way, but more importantly to adapt to different things.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first women’s football friendly between Australia and Mexico at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle. This is the first of two matches in the series as the Matildas and El Tri Femenil set out to build momentum for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Matildas return to Australia for a first game on home soil since their run to the Asian Cup final in March. The continental runners-up had little time to put their heartbreaking defeat to Japan behind them with a pair of Fifa Series games in Kenya – both convincing victories – just a few weeks later as attention quickly turned to the global showpiece in Brazil next year.
The world No 28-ranked Mexico are a significant step up in the Matildas’ preparations for the upcoming tournament and El Tri Femenil arrive in Newcastle in red-hot form. Australia might be ranked 13 places higher than Mexico at No 15 but their opponents are on the rise and unbeaten in their past nine matches across an imposing streak that includes a 1-0 victory over 2027 World Cup hosts Brazil in March.
Australia hold a dominant 10-1 win-loss record over Mexico, most recently tightening their stranglehold on the matchup with a 2-0 triumph in a friendly two years ago, but a tighter tussle seems to be on the cards tonight at a sold out McDonald Jones Stadium.
Kick-off is at 7.15pm 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!
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