Key events
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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