Matildas flex World Cup credentials with nervy win over Spain

Tony Gustavsson had promised the payoff would come eventually. In his reign as Matildas coach, the Swede has booked as many friendlies as possible with top-ranked nations, hoping the bruises they copped against the world’s best teams would harden them for the bigger battles to come.

But as the bad results piled up – just three wins from 19 games against teams ranked inside FIFA’s top 20, before Sunday – so too did the questions about whether he was the right person to oversee their home FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

The evidence is now starting to build in his favour.

Five months and one day out from their World Cup opener against Ireland came one of the best performances of Gustavsson’s tenure as coach, a 3-2 win over Spain in front of 17,333 fans at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, and a hint that the Matildas could be peaking at the right time.

Having rounded out 2022 with a series of friendly victories over South Africa, Denmark, Sweden and Thailand, they backed up Thursday night’s triumph over Czechia with a rampant first half against the world No.7, sparked by a wonder goal from Cortnee Vine.

Eleven minutes into the contest, Vine received a well-measured cutback sprayed across the top of the Matildas’ attacking box from Hayley Raso and took aim at goal. It looked good straight off the boot, sailing over goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez before nestling beautifully into the back of the net.

The Matildas were all smiles in their win over Spain last night.Credit:Getty

Clare Polkinghorne made it 2-0 just five minutes later, pouncing as Spain’s Carro Nolasco lost control of the ball as she tried to gather a deflected header from Sam Kerr – and three minutes before half-time, Caitlin Foord nodded home a lovely free kick from Steph Catley after Raso was fouled near the corner of the penalty area.

The second half was a different story, with two goals from Spain taking some of the shine off the performance as they pinned back Australia’s defensive line in search for a way back into the game – but treating this just as they would if they were playing the World Cup itself, Gustavsson threw extra numbers behind the ball, while his players threw their bodies on the line to protect their lead.

Spain eventually broke through via a cracking volley from Olga Carmona after Australia failed to clear a corner in the 73rd minute, before Alba Redondo added another deep in added time – but by then, the Matildas had done what they needed to do to bag the three points.

It must be noted that this was not Spain’s full-strength team – 15 players are on a much-publicised self-imposed exile due to a dispute with coach Jorge Vilda, and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is injured – but most of the players in their Cup of Nations squad were involved in a 2-0 win over the United States in October.

Cortnee Vine takes on the Spain defence.Credit:Getty

Gustavsson set up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Kerr and Foord up top and Vine and Raso using their pace and trickery down the wings, while Clare Hunt was rewarded for her sterling debut against Czechia with a spot in central defence.

The changes worked, at least in the first half, as the Matildas were able to safely withstand Spain’s probing possession play before pressing to force turnovers and launching into attack at blistering speed, usually through Vine or Raso roaming into space.

It all but assures Australia will take out the Cup of Nations – assuming they get past Jamaica, who were beaten 3-2 by Czechia earlier on Sunday, in their final game – but far more important is what this means for their World Cup hopes, and the credibility of their dream of lifting that trophy on home soil. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but they seem to be heading in the right direction.

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