<\/amp-img><\/amp-iframe><\/div>\nDespite the Matildas being second-best for the entire contest, a stoppage-time goal from substitute Holly McNamara cut Germany\u2019s lead in half.<\/p>\n
However, another injury-time goal, this time from German midfielder Sjoeke Nusken, ensured the final score better reflected the hosts\u2019 dominance.<\/p>\n
In his ongoing preparations for the 2027 World Cup, Matildas coach Joe Montemurro will hope for an improved display on Wednesday morning (AEDT) when the Australians meet Haiti in France.<\/p>\n
Despite being dominated by on Saturday morning, the Matildas made almost a perfect start, with midfielder Clare Wheeler and right-back Ellie Carpenter combining to open up Germany\u2019s defence in the first minute.<\/p>\n
It led to Carpenter feeding captain Sam Kerr, but the captain\u2019s flashy flick went straight to goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic.<\/p>\n
The hosts then had their own chance to grab the lead two minutes later through Cora Zicai, but the attacker wasted the opportunity, blazing her shot over the crossbar.<\/p>\n
However, it was an early warning sign for the Australians, with the Germans taking control of the contest.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>KARLSRUHE, GERMANY – OCTOBER 09: Sam Kerr of Australia looks on during the warm up before the Women’s international friendly match between Germany and Australia at BBBank Wildpark on October 09, 2026 in Karlsruhe, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm\/Getty Images for Football Australia)<\/span>Source: FOX SPORTS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNusken spurned another chance for the home team in the 16th minute, but Germany didn\u2019t have to wait much longer to score the game\u2019s first goal.<\/p>\n
It seemed far too easy for Australia\u2019s liking, with a far-post cross Carlotta Wamser finding teammate Franziska Kett, whose header was only partially parried by Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.<\/p>\n
The ball would have crossed the goal-line but unmarked striker Melissa Kossler made sure of it to give her side a 23rd-minute lead.<\/p>\n
Kossler doubled her team\u2019s advantage seven minutes later with a long-distance strike that Arnold should have saved.<\/p>\n
The chance came after Matildas veteran Emily van Egmond lost possession while the Australians were in attack.<\/p>\n
It was the story of the first-half, with the German midfield\u2019s pressure too much for the visitors to handle.<\/p>\n
Despite being outclassed, Australia halved Germany\u2019s lead in first-half stoppage-time with a smart header after being first to a near-post header from Carpenter.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nMatildas face off in Man City win | 00:53<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nThe Matildas had a chance to equalise in the 56th minute, but were denied by the woodwork, with a shot from Wheeler smashing into the crossbar.<\/p>\n
With the Matildas pushing forward, it left them exposed in defence, with Germany having late chances to extend their lead.<\/p>\n
The inevitable match-sealing goal was to come in the 83rd minute through a header from defender Camilla Kuver after keeper Arnold failed to reach a corner.<\/p>\n
McNamara then gave the Matildas hope in injury-time, however Nusken was quick to re-establish Germany\u2019s more than deserved two-goal advantage.<\/p>\n
Fresh faces<\/b><\/p>\n
Emerging talents Alana Murphy and Leticia McKenna got game time after Montemurro made four changes in the 64th minute.<\/p>\n
Experienced trio Kerr, van Egmond and Steph Catley were among the players substituted, with Amy Sayer also being replaced.<\/p>\n
Entering the contest along with midfielders Murphy and McKenna were attacker Holly McNamara and defender Courtney Nevin.<\/p>\n
There was also to be a late Matildas debut, with defender Tori Tumeth coming on in the dying stages.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got some players we believe will be in line for the squad in June, and it\u2019s great to see them under these real circumstances,\u201d Montemurro told Paramount Plus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to see the adaptability of players who can come in and continue that idea of football.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Matildas have suffered a reality check ahead of next year\u2019s FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, losing 4-2 to Germany in Karlsruhe. It was a scoreline that flattered the Australians, who were outclassed by the world\u2019s number three ranked women\u2019s football nation. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":266689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[156],"class_list":{"0":"post-266688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/266689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}