Unstoppable Australia kicks off Women's World Cup with sensational 1-0 triumph over Republic of Ireland
Australia edge past Republic of Ireland with a hard-fought 1-0 win in the Women's World Cup co-hosts' opening match, thanks to Steph Catley's second-half penalty
Steph Catley scored from a penalty in the second half to secure a tense 1-0 victory for Australia, who are co-hosting the Women's World Cup. The Australian team played below expectations, but managed to overcome the Republic of Ireland. Before the match, it was announced that their captain, Sam Kerr, had injured her calf during training, meaning she would be unavailable for the first two group stage games of the tournament held in Australia.
The Irish side received a well-timed boost before their inaugural participation in a World Cup finals. It was a Catley spot-kick that ultimately determined the outcome, as Hayley Raso was fouled by Marissa Sheva.
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Catley fires Australia ahead from the penalty spot
Catley's delivery from 12 yards was powerful, as it found the top right corner of Courtney Brosnan's goal. However, aside from that, Brosnan was not challenged much as Australia struggled to have a strong attacking presence without Kerr.
"After losing a player like Sam, who is arguably the best player in the world, both on and off the field, we were obviously devastated," Catley confessed after the match.
Vera Pauw's Ireland team, on the other hand, showed great promise and determination, led by the exceptional Katie McCabe. However, they were unable to overcome Australia's strong determination in Sydney, despite the presence of over 75,000 fans cheering on the Matildas to victory. Pauw expressed her disappointment, acknowledging that both teams knew that the game would be ultimately decided by a single mistake.
How Australia laboured to lucky win
Rocked by Kerr's sudden withdrawal due to injury, Australia initially struggled to find their rhythm before eventually grinding out a hard-fought victory.The Australian captain, Catley, acknowledged that her team's performance was somewhat eager due to the pressure of competing as the host nation. However, she managed to maintain her composure long enough to convert a penalty in the 52nd minute, ultimately breaking Ireland's admirable resistance.
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Sam Kerr will miss two games due to a calf injury. The goal scored by the team caused an outburst of happiness among the fans at Stadium Australia. However, it became evident that finding a suitable replacement for Kerr, who could provide a strong offensive presence, was a challenge. Despite Ireland's unfortunate loss, they came close to equalizing in the final moments of the game.
Caitlin Foord missed an opportunity to score a second goal for Australia in the 68th minute when she aimlessly headed the ball across the goal. However, this marked a turning point for Ireland as they abandoned their defensive strategy and adopted a more aggressive counter-press approach. In stoppage time, Megan Connolly nearly gave Australia a scare with a free-kick that narrowly missed the post and crossbar, while McCabe forced a smart save from Mackenzie Arnold with a close-range shot.
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Katie McCabe of Ireland engages in a fierce struggle to gain possession against Australia's Hayley Raso. In the final moments of the match, Louise Quinn missed a golden opportunity for Ireland by narrowly heading the ball wide of the far post.
What is the schedule?
The group stage is currently underway, lasting for two weeks and concluding on August 3. Teams that finish as group winners or runners-up will advance to the round of 16, scheduled from August 5 to August 8. Australia will derive encouragement from their maximum point haul in a game where their performance may have warranted less, and, with confidence-boosting triumphs over England, Spain, and France this year, they continue to believe that they can truly contend in the competition.The quarter-finals are set to take place on August 11 and 12 in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney. The first semi-final will be held in Auckland on August 15, followed by the other semi-final at the Accor Stadium in Sydney on August 16. The final will also be held at the Accor Stadium on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
