- Matildas defeated 2-1 by Canada
- Team faces growing concerns over injuries ahead of Games
- Star player Caitlin Foord withdrew after quad problem
The weakened Matildas team were defeated 2-1 by Canada in their last match before the Olympic Games in Paris.
Sharn Freier scored an early goal for Australia, but reigning Olympic champions Canada quickly equalized. A late strike from Evelyne Viens proved to be the winner in Marbella, Spain, on Saturday.
Star player Caitlin Foord had to withdraw from the match at the last minute after suffering from a sore quadriceps muscle during her warm-up. Freier replaced her in the starting line-up.
She was one of the players unavailable for the match as the Matildas focus on their Olympic campaign which begins on July 25.
Foord was seen in the stands during the match with her leg tied up.
Kaitlyn Torpey and Steph Catley were out earlier this week with lower leg injuries but are expected to rejoin the squad in training ahead of the opening match against Germany.
Goalkeeper Teagan Micah and midfielder Tameka Yallop were also ruled out as a precaution.
Coach Tony Gustavsson had warned of Canada’s high pressure and that quickly became apparent when goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was forced into a sharp save from Adriana Leon.
Star player Caitlin Foord (pictured right) was forced to withdraw from the match at the last minute after developing stiffness in her quadriceps during her warm-up. She was later seen with her leg strapped up.
The Matildas team lost 2-1 to Canada in their last match before the Olympic Games in Paris
The Matildas, however, scored first after Mary Fowler found space in Canada’s half and passed a tricky ball to Freier, who rounded a defender and fired the ball past goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Canada came back late in the half after a cross from Cloe Lacasse proved tricky for Arnold, creating an opportunity for the advancing Nichelle Prince to score.
Left-back Clare Wheeler gave Australia hope of regaining the lead just before half-time, but her pass across the goal failed to find Ellie Carpenter’s strike at the far post.
Gustavsson made five substitutions at half-time, with Charli Grant, Clare Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond, Michelle Heyman and Courtney Nevin replacing Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine.
Polkinghorne’s experience was clearly visible when she cleverly blocked a shot from Jordyn Huitema just over 10 minutes after the break.
Viens eventually made the difference after finding a ball from Huitema in the penalty area and she was able to fire home the decisive goal, giving Canada the lead for the first time in the 85th minute.