New coach watches on as Matildas smash record with second win
New boss Joe Montemurro was in the stands on Monday night as Amy Sayer's double spearheaded the Matildas to a second victory over Argentina in four days.
Montemurro had been unveiled as the 15th full-time head coach of Australia's women through to the 2028 Olympics earlier in the day, just 24 hours after Lyon confirmed his departure halfway through a two-year contract in France, where he had led them to the league title.
Although not officially commencing duties until mid-June, he spoke to the players at the team hotel before attending the international friendly in Canberra, where he talked to interim chief Tom Sermanni pre-match.
The 55-year-old then appeared an animated spectator in the early exchanges at a sold-out GIO Stadium but would have certainly enjoyed Sayer's technically perfect finishes either side of La Albiceleste equalising during an entertaining opening period.
He must have liked what he saw as the crowd of 25,125 set a new record for the most watched women's sporting event in the ACT.
Second-half events were far more one-sided, and despite the best efforts of Solana Pereyra in keeping out Michelle Heyman of Canberra United, Emily van Egmond was on hand to convert the rebound before home-favourite Heyman successfully rounded the goalkeeper to score Australia's fourth late on.
Never Sayer never
Sayer slammed the door shut on a chapter she described as the 'hardest thing I've ever done in my life' by grabbing her first international start in 549 days with both hands.
The 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury last April and only returned to club action for Swedish side Kristianstads DFF in recent months.
But after volleying an early opportunity over, Sayer showed no further signs of rustiness. Instead, she shone, netting a searching cross from Kahli Johnson - who backed up her debut goal with an assist, only to soon depart with a quad concern - and latching onto Caitlin Foord's invitation to deliver a low strike across the goalkeeper.
Six switches
There were half a dozen changes to the starting XI that defeated Argentina in Melbourne on Friday, with Arsenal's UEFA Women's Champions League winners - Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and skipper Steph Catley - drafted in alongside Courtney Nevin, Natasha Prior and the sensational Sayer.
Foord carried her club form onto the international stage, laying on the go-ahead goal courtesy of a threaded pass before forcing the turnover Heyman struck from. She should have put her name on the scoresheet, only to slam Holly McNamara's centre against the post.
For Prior, the transition was not as smooth and did not cover herself in glory when failing to cut out Milagros Martín's speculative forward ball that allowed Kishi Núñez to pull the visitors level.
Interim Tom Sermanni, ahead of his 151st and final game in charge of Australia, across three separate stints, gave his reaction to Montemurro's appointment, which comes on the runway to next March's home AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Cannot let that go': Ugly moment proves Carlton has lost the plot
Leading Fox Footy analyst David King has exposed Carlton in brutal fashion after an ugly moment during their loss to North Melbourne. The Blues were 'bullied' in eyes of legendary goalkicker Jonathan Brown as North Melbourne came from behind to leave the axe hovering over Carlton coach Michael Voss' head with a 13.6 (84) to 10.13 (73) win at the MCG. Leading by nine points at the first change, Carlton gave up 12 goals to three over the next two quarters as fans began booing Blues players. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. King on Sunday showed a concerning sight for Blues supporters when cameras captured a moment where star ruckman Tom De Koning was 'put into the fence' by Kangaroos ruckman Tristan Xerri without any counter-strikes from angry Blues teammates. Blues star Patrick Cripps and Ollie Hollands were the only players to make an effort on De Koning's behalf. King said the moment tells you everything you need to know about the Blues as their season slipped to a 6-8 record. You can watch the footage in the video player above. 'Ollie Hollands comes up and gives the most gentle of taps, the captain (Patrick Cripps) walks in and hardly affects Xerri's walking pattern. What is that from Adam Cerra?,' King said. 'Not one other player comes in to remonstrate as their big ruckman gets to his feet.' King showed another piece of vision from behind the goals which showed Xerri walked past Blues players at the interval and wasn't met with any hostile treatment, reports. 'Every team I played in would've come for him and made a stand: 'We're not having that happen to one of our boys. This is one of our brothers. This is the guy we go to battle with. I've got your back, you've got mine',' King added. 'That is not the case at Carlton and that permeates through the group. You cannot let that go unchecked. 'When Michael Voss says, 'We were bullied today', that's what he's talking about. 'A Carlton fan would be saying: 'What's happened to my proud club? Where's the fight?' King said it's a moment Carlton's senior players would want back to make a stand for their teammate. 'Patrick had to be stronger. I don't care if he gave away a free kick, the game was gone anyway. I was really disappointed,' the Roos great said. 'In that moment you're allowed to lose your mind a fraction. 'Jacob Weitering, Sam Docherty, George Hewett. They've got so many senior core players who could've done more to fly the flag.' The heat is well and truly on Brisbane Lions legend Voss. Gerard Healy commented on Fox Footy: 'Vossy needs a miracle right now.' That's when Brown gave the ultimate insult towards an established team facing one of the most inexperienced lists in the AFL. 'They're getting bullied,' he said of the Blues. 'They're getting beaten up, they're getting beaten up by a younger midfield for North Melbourne. The whole team for that matter. 'Michael Voss would be extremely disappointed. When a team physically confronts you, you either stand up or you roll over. 'Carlton have rolled over against a younger team.' When the Blues kicked the ball from side to side in their back half nearing three-quarter-time, the boos continued and Brown said: 'This isn't going to get you back in the game. 'That's why the crowd's booing.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow and forgive from Flemington on Saturday
Form expert Gilbert Gardiner analyses Saturday's Flemington Community Race Day, revealing his horses to follow as well as five to forgive. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– FIVE TO FOLLOW SPLASH BACK (1-length 1st of 12, Race 7): How could you not? Savage turn of foot late to nail TERRESTAR and the plucky SASSY BOOM after being hemmed away in an almost impossible position third last in traffic. Her win at Caulfield the start prior was equally impressive. Spring beckons for the rising six-year-old mare. SPLASH BACK FROM THE CLOUDS 🤯 🤯 She might be pretty good! Splash Back comes from nowhere to the delight of the punters, giving Tom Prebble a race to race double! @Grahame_Begg — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 21, 2025 FIELDELO (3.8-length 2nd of 11, Race 9): Crashed into a rising star in SHE'S AN ARTIST, who smashed the clock to win the 1100m Three-Year-Old Handicap by 3 3/4 lengths. Tracked the winner to the 800m but unable to quicken as sharply when She's An Artist sprinted clear. Fieldelo, trained by Toby Lake, stuck to her task to run second. BRIDAL WALTZ also gallant in third. She's An Artist shares a resemblance to a certain sprinter & she might share some of that ability... ðŸ'©â€�🎨 The bald-faced filly trounces her opposition under hands & heals. @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 RELENTLESS VOYAGER (4.5-length 6th of 12, Race 8): Expect to see more of him in coming weeks and months. A lovely Australian debut, albeit luckless, by the imported stayer, twice stakes' placed in England last year. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding had not raced for 10 months before last Saturday. Held up multiple times inside the last 200m and barely got out of second gear. "What a day for team Payne!" Jimmy The Bear atones for an uncharacteristic poor run last start, bounding away with the David Bourke Handicap ðŸ�» Michelle & Patrick Payne have a quartet & their apprentice, Tom Prebble, has a treble 🤩 — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 FROM A DISTANCE (0.8-length 2nd of 11, Race 4): Worked into contention nicely in the straight but snookered between horses on the heels of winner TAKEN. The Symon Wilde-trained gelding got clear air eventually, inside the last 75m, and surged into second position. Could be hard to hold out next start at 1600m. Stablemate DARKBONEE (3rd) saved best work late after being held up. Taken lugs 60kg to extend his winning-streak to four ðŸ'Œ @CWilliamsJockey collects his first winner of the afternoon. @MickPriceRacing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 HARD TO CROSS (4.3-length 8th of 13, Race 5): Wet track, 1600m third-up could be a nice recipe for the typically consistent performer. Posted wide without cover last Saturday in the second half of the field and shunted deeper again in the straight. BRIGHT STRIPES (3.1-length 7th) an eye-catching run late. Cafe Millennium collects an elusive second victory after going winless since his debut ðŸ¤� @lindsayparkrace has their galloper humming since joining the team this preparation. @LukeCartwrightt — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– FORGIVE RED GALAXY (6.4-length 11th of 16, Race 5): Travelled outside leader FREAK OF NATURE (11.2-length 13th of 13) and both weakened in the straight. Jockey Craig Williams told stewards Red Galaxy made an abnormal respiratory noise on pulling up. A post-race endoscopy detected a throat condition that may have affected Red Galaxy's performance. Freak Of Nature also pulled up with signs of a throat condition. AVEBURY (4.6-length 8th of 12, Race 7): Faded out of contention late but potentially reached the end of her preparation. Raced consistently of late, with big weights, including a Caulfield win four starts back. OBSERVER (6.4-length 5th of 8, Race 1): Won too impressively the start prior at Sandown, bolted in by five lengths, to sack off one blemish. The two-year-old colt appeared to travel well at Flemington but wilted when jockey Craig Williams asked for an effort as BUCCLEUCH (1st) and MILLENNIUM BLADE (3rd) challenged at the 300m. Buccleuch surges away from his fellow 2yos under the guidance of @TheBeeegan ðŸ'Œ @mj_payne — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS SAY Jockey John Allen reported ST LAWRENCE (Race 8) failed to respond under pressure and was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant findings. Trainer Gavin Bedggood could offer no explanation for the performance. Stewards will follow up with the stable.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Hey Duggee's Squirrel Club
ABC iview Home Watch all your favourite ABC programs on ABC iview. More from ABC We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
