The Matildas trumped France with a 1-0 victory in their final warm-up match before the World Cup, but Friday night’s win was marred by a gutting injury blow.
Less than a week out from Australia’s tournament-opening clash with the Republic of Ireland, to be played at Sydney Olympic Park next Thursday night, midfielder Tameka Yallop hobbled from the field with a knee injury at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
Yallop hyperextended her left leg as she challenged for the ball in the second half, before leaving the field and wrapping her knee in ice.
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The French also suffered an injury blow with defender Selma Bacha spraining her left ankle while contesting for the ball in the second half.
As Bacha was stretchered from the field, Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter — who plays with Bacha at Olympique Lyonnais — was in tears.
The Matildas scored the game’s only goal through young gun Mary Fowler, who was substituted on and came up with a classy finish in the 66th minute.
A chain of passes began with Matildas goalkeeper Clare Hunt and found Hayley Raso on the right wing, with the forward taking a darting run and firing the ball in to Fowler, who was lurking just outside the six-yard box.
Fowler gained control of the ball and rocketed it past the French goalkeeper, sending a record-breaking crowd delirious.
A 50,629-strong crowd — the largest attendance for a senior Australian women’s football match — had piled into Marvel Stadium to see Sam Kerr and her teammates take on France.
“I already knew everything about these girls, but it’s nice to show it in front of a big crowd and get the crowd behind us before next week,” Kerr told Network 10 after the match.
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“These girls every week — we play together, it’s an amazing team, it’s an amazing feeling and I’m so excited for next week.”
Although a record-breaking crowd swarmed to Marvel Stadium on Friday night, the crowd set to pack into Accor Stadium next Thursday night is sure to be even bigger.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time and it’s a dream come true to bring the World Cup home to (Australia),” said Kerr, who was substituted off about 60 minutes into Friday night’s match.
“This crowd’s been amazing and this is why we do it — for the fans.
“It’s been an unbelievable week and hopefully (it’s) an unbelievable month to come.”
The Matildas are grouped with the Republic of Ireland, Canada and Nigeria for the World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
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