Australia burst into life in the second half at Central Coast Stadium to run out comfortable winners in their opening game of the mini-tournament
The Czech Republic, Spain and Jamaica were all strategically picked for these home matches because their playing styles are similar to those of Australia’s World Cup group-stage opponents the Republic of Ireland, Canada and Nigeria. The defensive-minded, structurally organised Czechs in this scenario are supposed to be Canada. The same Canada to whom Australia lost two friendlies last year.
On the evidence of Thursday night, it is unclear how they will fare against them when it counts. Glass-half-full observers will reference figurative cobwebs being blown out after a few months apart followed by a confidence-boosting second half. The less optimistic will attempt to place this performance into a wider context, in which theare ranked 12th in the world and face a tricky knockout-stage draw, and point out that some of the Czech Republic’s strongest players did not travel.
The truth is that nobody knows, because recent results have been so capricious. Just when you think Gustavsson will rue the day he threw on a second-string side and copped seven goals against Spain, he oversees convincing wins over Sweden and Denmark. The same occurred at Central Coast Stadium; one begins to analyse an opening 45 minutes during which Australia spent the first half with a hell of a lot of ball but nothing to show for it, and then they go and score four after the break.
It was apparent when, 20 minutes in, she made a dart for the box and went down under Gabriela Šlajsová’s stuck-out foot, ensuring a yellow card for the latter. Also three minutes into the second half when, with Kerr’s final pass behind her, she managed to contort her body into a shooting position and score the opener – partly thanks to a fortuitous deflection.
The missing piece of that goal’s puzzle is the player who nodded the ball to Raso from the far post. Clare Hunt was a bolter in this squad, a reward for consistent form for Western Sydney Wanderers, and made herself known from the off. The same can be said for Alex Chidiac, who announced her arrival soon after with two involvements in the build-up to Kerr’s goal. Before the match Gustavsson referenced this, saying: “It’s not just about the starting XI, it’s about the finishing XI as well.
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