Live updates for the Olympic women’s football qualifying match between Australia’s Matildas and Iran.


In the first match of the World Cup for the Matildas, they used a 5-4-1 formation with a low defensive line. However, in their game against Ireland, they lacked the courage to play through the opposing team’s defense.

There was a significant increase in combination plays today and it is now time to advance further with the ball. I was pleased to see a determined team attempting to execute combination plays.

The Matildas emerged victorious, despite not having much time to bond before the game (although, since 21 of the 22 players have been on the team for some time, this may not have been a major concern). However, it’s possible that these discussions will arise in the future as we wait to see if this team can continue to progress.

The answer to this problem, like many other strategic and practical problems, is most likely found at the youth level.

Matildas and he is completely correct. They finish the night with 79% of the possession, 19 corner kicks, and 25 attempts on goal (six of them on target), while limiting Iran to only two shots. However, they were only able to score twice against Khajavi.

Iran fiercely defended using strategic tactics and a bit of trickery to thwart their opponents. They were determined not to win, but also not to suffer a significant loss. Our initial question was whether the untested Australian team had the ability to break through a stubborn defensive formation, and for the most part, they were unable to do so.

Currently, only a small number of competitors will remain further back and give up plans to strike, similar to the way the Iranians did. It is likely that there will be more opportunities available against more highly qualified opponents. However, this opponent was still anticipated to be defeated with greater aggression.

However, the turning point was when Fowler, Catley, and Kerr were substituted into the game. The new energy and skill of these players, along with Kerr’s ability to score, ultimately led to the defeat of the Iranian team. Australia still has many talented players who have yet to play in this tournament, such as Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry, who will be prepared for upcoming matches.

Can we attribute these challenges against weaker teams to a lack of skill or is it a larger issue? What was the significance of it all? While we may have some theories, it might be beneficial to gather more information. It is likely that Philippines coach Mark Torcaso closely observed the game and we will have to wait and see what insights he and Gustavsson gained from it before their match on Sunday.

The Matildas have successfully achieved it. Carpenter and Kerr scored goals in both halves, leading to the defeat of a valiant Iranian team in their first AFC Olympic Qualification match.

The Matildas quickly advance to the opposite end and send Kerr running towards the goal with a great pass from Fowler. However, her attempt to chip the ball into the net only hits the top of the goal.

Matildas attacks.

The Matildas continue to shift the ball to the sides, but by the time they do so, Iran has already regained their defensive formation. Our team appears to have the most scoring opportunities from crosses and set pieces.

The Matildas possess exceptional physical abilities and it is a formidable task for their opponents to defend against them. Although their style of play may not be aesthetically pleasing, when considering the circumstances, one cannot help but admire their achievements thus far.

72 minutes have passed in the game. Kerr has just missed an opportunity from a corner kick to score. The ball came from the right side and bypassed Fowler, reaching Kerr. However, her quick shot went high and missed the goal.

In 71 minutes, Khajavi should be given a lot of praise for her performance tonight. While it may not have been perfect, she has done a fantastic job of controlling her area despite the constant pressure from balls being sent into the box. She has also helped keep the defense together, and the score is still only 1-0.

Source: theguardian.com