Dwell
The Matildas have set the tone for his or her Cup of Nations marketing campaign, with Hayley Raso scoring a double as they pumped Czechia 4-Zero in Gosford.
Raso’s two targets after the half-time break at Industree Group Stadium helped settle Australia’s nerves after the Czechs had did not convert a trio of gilt-edged possibilities within the first half.
Tony Gustavsson’s aspect ironed out their defensive vulnerabilities within the second half and Sam Kerr and Clare Polkinghorne, who turned the Matildas’ most-capped participant of all time in her 152nd sport, joined Raso on the scoresheet.
Australia will play world No.7 Spain, which beat Jamaica earlier on Thursday, in Parramatta on Sunday in a sport which is prone to determine the winner of the event.
Polkinghorne seemed assured on the again in her milestone sport and the Matildas started in promising vogue with Kerr and Raso each probing the Czech defence.
However simply as Australia was starting to threaten, Czechia sparked into life.
If it wasn’t for goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who was beginning her first Matildas sport in over a yr, Australia may have discovered themselves 3-Zero down.
Gustavasson has spoken of this event being a costume rehearsal for the World Cup however when the Czechs took a stranglehold – albeit briefly – his aspect seemed weak.
Fortunately for the Swede his aspect had been in a position to climate the storm after which snatch a lead by Raso simply after half-time.
Kerr discovered her teammate in area on the fitting aspect of the field within the 48th minute and Raso completed, a merciless deflection serving to the ball bobble previous Czech goalkeeper Olivie Lukasova and into the again of the web.
Raso’s strike jolted Australia into life and it attacked with function, with Kerr significantly menacing as she left the Czech protection chasing their tail.
A Steph Catley nook was their reward and it was a chance they did not waste.
Western Sydney defender Clare Hunt, who was making her senior debut, headed Catley’s in-swinger again in direction of the goalmouth the place Raso was in a position to poke dwelling for her second of the night time.
Even after Gustavsson made a treble substitution, the Matildas continued their cost, with Kerr scoring within the 70th minute after some energetic play from substitute Alex Chidiac.
Polkinghorne then capped her historic night time by scoring off a deflection from a nook with lower than 10 minutes left.
-AAP
