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The Matildas seesawed from cheers to jeers as Nigeria got here from behind to beat them 3-2 in Brisbane.
Here is how the web reacted.
Dropping Sam Kerr minutes earlier than your first match? Nicely, that is simply foul luck.
Dropping your brightest younger attacker and a veteran defender the day earlier than your second match? Nicely, that is Fowler Luik.
Tortured wordplay apart, two extra accidents sustained in coaching had the Matildas limping into this significant match in opposition to Nigeria.
Tony Gustavsson revealed on Wednesday Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik had gotten head knocks in separate incidents throughout a high-intensity 8v8 coaching match, which one assumes was overseen by visitor assistant coach Vinnie Jones.
Nonetheless, Brisbane was alive with Matildas fever, as a torrent of effervescent yellow and gold enthusiasm sloshed down Caxton Road towards Lang Park.
The massively skilled Emily van Egmond got here into the beginning XI, as a No.10.
Nigeria, who had their star striker Asisat Oshoala benched with harm pre-match, set as much as counter, and did so a few instances within the opening quarter hour.
However as soon as Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry started pinging the ball round, darting round tacklers, the tempo started to sound, tick, tick, tick, and the Matildas started to step in time.
Steph Catley stung the palms of the Nigerian keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Catilin Foord curled a snarling try vast.
Courtnee Vine was scythed down in a sort out, and her head snapped again onto the turf horribly; a medic got here out to manage a head harm evaluation, and the followers waited for a 3rd Matildas concussion in 48 hours to be confirmed.
Fortunately, Vine was effective, and resumed, as did Australia’s vigorous push for an opener, with Raso quickly side-footing simply vast from a nook.
Nigeria weren’t with out their moments too, notably one sickening deflected shot that rolled vast with Mackenzie Arnold stranded on the opposite aspect of the purpose.
And because the first half rolled towards an unsatisfying state of parity, Emily van Egmond struck; a piercing run by Foord down the left noticed her cross neatly for van Egmod, trundling into the field with that excellent, late No.10 run.
She poked a end via legs, virtually underhit, out of attain of saving, and Australia had the lead.
The 5 minutes of first half added time had been up, a 1-0 lead secured, what an exquisite approach to head into half time, and now to take a big sip of water and anticipate the whistle to … after which Nigeria equalised.
A turnover in midfield led to a surge down the Australian proper flank. A cross was deflected, looping up and down and proper to the toes of Uchenna Kanu. She jabbed a end via Catley’s legs into the purpose.
A intestine punch, and all of the joyful air within the Australian lungs whistled out. 1-1 at half-time.
Nigeria got here out with barely extra offensive urge for food within the second half, sensing the Matildas had been maybe much less fearsome in assault than they had been weak in defence.
The hour mark arrived, and requires a sure substitution had been heard.
Alex Chidiac, a potent attacker, who has the bravery to show and create in tight areas, and who relishes the clamour of battle was nonetheless sitting on the bench.
In the meantime, Nigeria was taking the lead. A nook swung in, ballooned up within the air and looped again the route it got here. Headed throughout the face of purpose, Osinache Ohale met it, and scuffed throughout the road.
The dominance within the first half now a faint reminiscence, the house aspect had been reeling, rocking again after a clear shot to the purpose of the chin.
Asisat Oshoala had come on, deadly Bacelona striker, and like a shark with blood within the water, when Alanna Kennedy and Arnold combined up a headed again move, Oshoala powered throughout the turf and struck, ending from a good angle, 3-1.
The match had been within the Matildas’ fingers; it now wasn’t simply out of attain, it was out of sight.
The panic set in.
Tony Gustavsson in the end made a substitution, however inexplicably it was centre again Claire Polkinghorne approaching.
Beginning centre again Alanna Kennedy was moved into an auxiliary striker place; this was insanity manifesting right here, determined groping for a handhold at the hours of darkness, and the lots started to show, the bitter odor of defeat within the air.
Alanna Kennedy grabbed a purpose again with a minute remaining at a nook with Mackenzie Arnold as much as contest it, the final word in soccer desperation. It was consolatory.
The ultimate whistle went and because the Nigerian heroes fell to the bottom, overcome with emotion, the complete Australian calamity got here into view.
The failure to capitalise on the primary half supremacy. The lack to see out the half. The frailty when going behind. And the catastrophic flailing when their grip on the competition was misplaced.
Australia might want to beat the Olympic champions, Canada, on Monday to qualify for the knockout rounds.
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