It took a set piece and a 95th-minute Michelle Heyman goal for a flat Australian side to claim a 1-1 draw in the first of their final two pre-Olympic friendlies.
That Gustavsson’s regular starting line-up is more settled than players who are either younger or less used to playing together? That he tends to make more rather than less changes in friendlies and then revert to type whenever it doesn’t go swimmingly? That Australia are still grappling with goals in the absence of Sam Kerr, and if Heyman is to be a source to replace them and Fowler is to make her magic then they need more supply?Or are they just blowing out the cobwebs in Adelaide and they’ll...
injured following that tweak of some description during what ended up being a short cameo. Freier played with purpose when she came on and did not look out of place, so that’s a solid debut in the can.Overall the Matildas did not have the better of that match. They started static and only really grew into it once Gustavsson made those five high-profile changes on the hour mark, and even then could not score until a set piece at the death.I don’t have much more to say right now.
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