Photo Credit: Keith McInnes / SPP
Over a two-game friendly series between the senior Mexico and Australia women’s national teams, played in Newcastle and then Sydney, each team came away with one victory. The first match was won 1-0 by the visitors; the second 3-1 by the hosts.
The first match took place in front of a sold-out crowd on June 6, a cold winter night. Chelsea defender Ellie Carpenter donned the captain’s armband in her 100th international appearance for the Matildas. Her team created plenty of scoring opportunities, but Mexico snatched the win in stoppage time. Substitute Diana Ordoñez finished off the transition move as she was found by Alice Gallegos wide open in the box, and put a clean finish past goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
After the loss, Matildas defender Steph Catley said the loss was disappointing but, “there’s also a realization that we are at the very start of a journey towards the World Cup — although it’s obviously not how we’d like to start,” she said.
The second game, on June 9, went very differently for the hosts. Alanna Kennedy opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a set-piece service headed down by Sam Kerr, spinning and getting the shot in the box off against the momentum of the goalkeeper. Mexico leveled the score in a matter of minutes as Ordóñez scored again.
The finalist for 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year benefited from the high pressure of her teammates forcing a turnover just outside the 18-yard box, finding her in the middle of the six-yard box.
Both goals conceded by Australia, plus chances they weren’t punished on, continue to raise questions about the Matildas’ defense. In general, their downfall in international tournaments has been defensive issues rather than a lack of offensive creation. Those issues continue to look prevalent. However, they were more hidden in the second game as Australia scored two more goals after the equalizer.
Ten minutes after Mexico scored, Australia benefited from the tried and true connection of Ellie Carpenter and all-time leading goalscorer Sam Kerr. From her outside back position, Carpenter sent in the pinpoint cross that Kerr connected with first time. Though her shot hit the post, it was so powerful it bounced back and off the back of the goalkeeper into the net.
Caitlin Foord, in her 150th appearance for Australia and wearing the captain’s armband, secured the result with a strong individual effort in the 70th minute. Running into the box in transition, her jersey was blatantly being pulled by Reyna Reyes, so she spun back out of the pressure and finished with a low curling effort to the back post.
For as much as Australia head coach Joe Montemurro has talked about developing his player pool for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, having already secured qualification back in March through the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, it was the veterans who delivered — Kennedy, Kerr, Carpenter, Foord and the like.
For Mexico, these games were a great test against top opposition as they prepare for World Cup qualification. Success in the first phase of Concacaf qualifying meant they will join seven other teams in the 2026 Concacaf W Championship. The Championship will take place in November-December 2026, and all four semi-finalists will qualify for the World Cup — the losing quarter-finalists will take part in play-off matches to determine the two teams who will participate in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
While a myriad of former National Women’s Soccer League players appeared in the two-game series, only six current NWSL players were named to the two rosters. Portland Thorns and Australia goalkeeper Arnold started and played the full 90 in both games. Her club teammate, Reyes, started both matches, playing the full first game and 72 minutes in the second. Washington Spirit defensive midfielder Rebeca Bernal captained Mexico and played the full second match but not the first. Utah Royals forward Kiana Palacios played 20 minutes off the bench in the 3-1 loss. Boston Legacy defender Nicolette Hernández also only appeared in the second game, but started and played the full match. Chicago Stars defender Aaliyah Farmer did not appear in the matchday squad for either game despite being called up.
Kerr, who is currently unattached but rumored to be returning to the NWSL after already announcing her departure from Chelsea, started and played the full 90 in the loss, then started and played 72 minutes in the win, looking every bit the elite goalscorer she was before her ACL injury.
