The Matildas' preparations for the Olympic Games have finally had some good news, with the team securing a hard-fought 2-0 win over Mexico in Texas despite a slew of injuries.
Eight players withdrew from the team's camp over the past two weeks, adding to the loss of captain Sam Kerr to a torn ACL in January, raising questions over the squad's depth and ability to cover for key players.
But, in their first game since officially booking their ticket to the Paris Games in February, the Matildas were able to answer a number of those questions, with a number of veterans standing up when it mattered to defeat the world number 31.
Hayley Raso got the team off to the best start after turning neatly on the edge of the box and firing a shot into bottom corner in the ninth minute, but Mexico quickly rallied in defence, making it tough for Raso to find the same spaces for the rest of the half.
Australia could not find the back of the net again until early in the second half when Caitlin Foord, who had also been fairly quiet in the opening 45 minutes, fired a curling shot around a diving Esthefanny Barreras after slaloming around three players near the top of the box.
Injuries to regular starters Katrina Gorry and Clare Hunt meant Tony Gustavsson had to make a couple key shuffles, including moving left-back Steph Catley into the middle to partner Alanna Kennedy, while youngster Kaitlyn Torpey proved her versatility by impressing at left-back in her second start since debuting in February.
Emily Van Egmond also came into the starting XI alongside Kyra Cooney-Cross, while Michelle Heyman was rewarded for her performances against Uzbekistan with another start up front, though was not as impressive against a higher-pressing, more physical Mexico side.
Mexico's high-energy press posed an important test for the Matildas, who have traditionally struggled against such styles, but this friendly proved they are capable of playing the ball out from the back and keeping possession against the types of teams they could face in Paris later this year.
"It was a great challenge," Steph Catley said afterwards.
"We were brave in playing out against an aggressive press. We took a little while to get going, but in the second half, we came out [stronger] and created more chances.
"We talked about, at half-time, ironing out those little bumps out - which happens when you have a new back-line. But in general, I think we played well.
"We showed we can play in different styles. We built up in different formations, we can play in behind, we can play in front. We figured out different types of presses. I think the team has matured a lot.
"In the past, we might get flustered or go long just to get an answer, but now we're more comfortable on the ball."
Perhaps most importantly, the Australians got through the game without incurring any more injuries, in addition to securing their third consecutive clean sheet.
They next gather at the end of May in Australia for a two-game friendly series against China.
Check out how the action unfolded in our live blog below.
When do the Matildas play next?
That's it from me for today (how nice is a 10am AEST kick-off? More of those please, universe).
But I'll be back on the ABC Sport blog in a couple weeks time, as the Matildas take on China in a two-game friendly series.
The first takes place on Friday, May 31 at Adelaide Oval with kick-off at 8:10pm AEST.
Their second game will be on Monday, June 3 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, kick-off 7.40pm AEST.
Both games will be shown live on Channel 10 and Paramount Plus.
Until then, have a fabulous rest of your day!
Your final thoughts
Well done, Tillies!!!!!
- M
Almost a 51% win rate for TG...slowly but surely
- Tania
All's well. (Gotta stop with those embarrassing goal kicks Tonyyy, an interesting failed experiment). Happy birthday Cortnee, good to see you back in there. Thank you Sam!
- Big Ben
Love a good solid win that gives the coaching staff difficult decisions for squad selection!
- Lewis
Great to see the Matildas get the win despite being depleted by injuries to key players, now bring on China in Adelaide at the end of May.
- Adam
My final thoughts
Well, considering the doubts a lot of us had around squad depth in light of all those injuries pre-game, the Matildas have definitely shown that they're not as worried as we are.
This was an excellent game from both sides. Mexico were a very well-structured side, very physical, and didn't give Australia a lot of time on the ball with their high-energy press.
But the Matildas were able to solve a number of those problems - especially how to keep the ball and play out from pressure instead of just thumping it long - though there are still a couple question-marks around clinical finishing and creating more convincing opportunities in central areas, rather than relying constantly on their wingers.
I was super impressed by Emily Van Egmond and Kaitlyn Torpey, while Caitlin Foord did something every time she was on the ball. Steph Catley was also brilliant as a stand-in centre-back in the absence of Clare Hunt, though it did reduce the Matildas' left-sided attacking overlaps slightly.
Overall, a really impressive, confident, and co-ordinated performance from the Matildas, who also secure another le clean sheet.
Full-time: Mexico 0 - 2 Australia!
90' Foord presses
A cute little flick-around her own defender sees Caitlin Foord, who's now playing at centre-forward, sprinting shoulder-to-shoulder with Mexico's centre-back to try and win the ball.
Her defender beats her to it, and tries to clear it, but Foord slides in to intercept.
The clearance falls right to the feet of Sharn Frier, who has a heap of space in front of her in the box, but the referee blows the whistle signalling a foul before the winger has a chance to decide what to do.
Bugger.
2 minutes of time added on
88' Oi, ref!
Caitlin Foord is holding her arms wide, staring straight at the referee.
The Mexican goalkeeper, Esthefanny Barreras, has been holding the ball for at least 10 seconds, which is definitely not allowed.
The referee doesn't care, evidently. Seconds tick by. The commentators are asking the question. Then she thumps it up-field.
I understand time-wasting, but in a friendly? Geez.
86' Australia substitution
And it's a debut for Sharn Frier, who earns Matildas cap number 228!
The Brisbane Roar winger replaces Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Loading84' Yellow card
Clare Wheeler gets the first slice of cheese of the match after a studs-up tackle on Maria Sanchez.
81' Mexico try to claw a goal back
They've had two chances in the past minute!
First, a corner is taken short on the far side, which the Matildas aren't able to close down in time, with one of the players rocketing a shot just wide of the near post.
But the biggest chance came a moment later as Australia tried to pass out from the goal kick, with Kyra Cooney-Cross giving the ball away at the top of the box, but the shot slams straight into Mackenzie Arnold's chest.
That was a real let-off. The Matildas will be lucky to escape this with a clean sheet.
79' Australia substitution
Charlie Grant comes on for Kaitlyn Torpey, who's had a ripper game once again.
77' Chance Australia!
Some fabulous one-touch football sees the Matildas go from one end of the field to the other, with Cortnee Vine at the heart of it.
She drops for a little one-two with Carpenter, and then turns and does a one-two with Van Egmond.
The ball slides out wide for the overlapping Carpenter, who sends a deep cross towards the back post.
Mary Fowler is there, and launches herself into the air, stretching every sinew in her neck to try and reach it, but her header soars just over the crossbar once again.
Such a nice move.
Can we get a different chant, please?
Loving hearing the "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, oi, oi" chants from the crowd!
- Tania
Like, I get it. But can't we come up with something a little more... creative?
73' Mexico substitutions
Mayra Pelayo comes on for Maricarmen Reyes.
And forward Maria Sanchez, who scored an unbelievable winner against the USA, replaces defender Araceli Torres.
71' Chance Australia!
Mary Fowler stands over a corner now, which she herself won after chasing a through-ball by Torpey earlier that was scuttled away by a Mexican defender.
The Manchester City midfielder sends her corner kick deep, and bizarrely both Clare Wheeler and (I think) Alanna Kennedy are totally free at the back of the box.
It's Wheeler who connects first, pulling her whole body through the header, but the ball flies wide. Bummer.
69' Friendly fire
Mexico have kept the ball well in the past few minutes, trying to move it around and find openings.
They're still committed to attacking down the right wing, trying to exploit Kaitlyn Torpey's inexperience (boy, were they wrong), but they haven't had much luck.
Just now, Ovalle tries to cut back for a team-mate, expecting her to swing a cross into the box, but the ball slams into the winger's torso instead and spins up the other end of the field.
Unluckyyyyy.
65' Some adjustments
Tony Gustavsson has shuffled his players around in light of the substitutions.
Clare Wheeler now partners Kyra Cooney-Cross as the midfield double-pivot, with Emily Van Egmond now pushing a little further forward as more of an attacking midfielder/false centre-forward.
Mary Fowler continues to float wherever she likes (how luxurious), and has pushed a little higher up the field to partner Van Egmond, while Foord and Vine are stationed on the left and right respectively, dropping deeper to maintain the 4-4-2 formation off the ball.
62' Vine with a chance!
Mary Fowler wins the ball high up the field, cutting inside and finding Cortnee Vine near the top of the box.
Vine takes a single touch to set herself and puts her foot through it - just her second touch of the game so far - but her shot is straight at the goalkeeper.
Imagine if she had scored. On her 25th birthday, too. There would have been scenes here in my living room in Sydney.
61' Australia substitutions
Cortnee Vine comes on for Hayley Raso.
Clare Wheeler replaces Michelle Heyman.
And Clare Polkinghorne takes the place of Steph Catley.
60' Corner chaos!
Mexico's subs barely have enough time to set themselves before Caitlin Foord wins Australia another corner.
Cooney-Cross curls it to the back of the crowded box, with Raso heading it back across goal, and Michelle Heyman tries to rise high to meet it but gets an elbow in the back and tumbles into the grass.
She gestures to the referee for a penalty, but it's waved away.
The ball is quickly recycled as Mexico scramble to defend, with Raso the one who clips it back into the area, but it's thumped away.
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