Steph Catley has Stood tall as Captain in Sam Kerr's Injury enforced absence to deliver the Matilda's a 1-0 victory over Irland in their Women's World Cup opener. Australia's campaign suffered a hammer blow when Sam Kerr was ruled out of Thursday's nightsn game and the subsequent game against Nigeria with a calf injury suffered in Wednesday's final training session.
According to reports from Australia's football,th t Chelsea striker will be assessed araft the Matilda's second group B game against Nigeria in Brisbane on July 27. The vice captain Catley wore the armband and stepped up in the 52nd minute to take a penalty after Hayley Raso was brought down, coolly dispatching the winning spot kick into the top corner to send stadium Australia in raptures.
Mary Fowler has replaced Sam Kerr in Australia's starting lineup against Ireland and was the only change to the team that beat France 1-0 in Melbourne in the final warm up. Caitlin Food led Australia's attack in Sam Kerr's absence. Coach Tony Gustavsson opted for Alanna Kennedy to pair with Clare Hunt in the center of defense instead of veteran Clare Polkinghorne.
As expected, Ireland parked the bus, playing five at the back and giving the Australia's a green wall of players to get through. For more than 45 minute,it worked. The Matildas probed early without reward,struggling to break down the Irish and taking some nervous looking loose touches.
Katrina Gorry was everywhere, controlling the game from midfield,while Raso frantic energy and pace kept Ireland on their toes and she had a fiery battle with Irish skipper Katie McCabe.
