Injuries continue to trouble the Matildas ahead of their Paris Olympic Games opener against Germany in less than two weeks, with key forward Caitlin Foord a late withdrawal from Australia’s 2-1 loss in its warm-up clash against Canada.
Having already announced last week that captain Steph Catley and Kaitlyn Torpey would miss the game against the Canadians due to lower leg injuries, the Matildas suffered another blow pre-match when Arsenal star Foord withdrew from Sunday morning’s contest after experiencing tightness in her quad.
Others who weren’t considered for selection for the game played at the Matildas training base in Marbella, Spain were Brisbane Roar’s Tameka Yallop, who suffered what was described as a “minor impact” leg injury at training, and back-up goalkeeper Teagan Micah, who continues to recover from an ankle injury she suffered in May while on duty for her club Liverpool.
“You always want to have all your players fit and in form … (but) sometimes it’s a challenge,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.
“I’ve also ben around long enough to know that the only thing that we can focus on is what we can control.
“Caitlin felt something in the warm-up, and I said `let’s play it safe’.”
In the absence of Foord, Yallop’s Roar teammate Sharn Freier, who had originally been named among the substitutes, was called into the starting side, and made the most of her opportunity by scoring in the 24th minute to give the Matildas the lead after being fed by playmaker Mary Fowler.
However, it was a goal that came against the run of play, with the Canadians having been the better team in the first half.
Gustavsson wouldn’t have been happy with the Matildas’ sloppiness in possession particularly when faced with Canada’s pressing tactics.
It was also an error from Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold that gifted the Canadians an equaliser in the 41st minute.
Arnold fumbled a cross from Cloe Lacasse, with Nichelle Prince pouncing on the loose ball to level scores.
The Matildas made a host of changes at the start of the second-half, with Charlotte Grant, Clare Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond, Michelle Heyman and Courtney Nevin entering the contest.
The five players replaced were right-back Ellie Carpenter – who had worn the captain’s armband in the absence of Catley – central defender Alanna Kennedy, midfielder Katrina Gorry and attacking weapons Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine.
Winonah Heatley also came on later in the half for centre-back Clare Hunt.
Despite the changes, the Canadians continued to assert their superiority, leading to the game’s winning goal in the 85th minute from substitute Evelyne Viens.
Gustavsson said his side’s error-ridden display was partly due to a heavy training load in camp.
He was more concerned Australia’s creativity in attack.
“I don’t think we created enough. We normally create a lot of chances when we play,” Gustavsson said.
“I want to create more. I want to attack.”
The Matildas are set to relocate to France later this week ahead of the opening match of their Olympic Games campaign against Germany in Marseille on July 26 (AEST).