Matildas take their time but finally find a way to break Philippines dam

Swamped by teammates after finally making the breakthrough that put the Matildas on their way to a 4-0 win over the Philippines, there were no backflips or dashes to the corner from Sam Kerr, just a guttural roar.

It was a primal scream that bore all the frustrations of an opening 50 minutes in which the Matildas had been banging their heads against a brick wall and an acknowledgment of the weight of expectations placed on a side now in “performance mode”.

The goal finally converted outright dominance to the only stat that actually matters, and an own goal from defender Dominique Jaylin Randle as she attempted to clear away a long Emily van Egmond ball into the box moments later made it 2-0.

To that point in the contest the Philippines had been content to sit back in a well-organised defensive block, force the Matildas out wide and make them earn any half-chances through some physical play that was on the edge of what is considered acceptable. But the change in dynamic and the associated psychological blow to the Malditas from that rapid one-two punch meant more goals were almost inevitable.

Alen Stajčić’s side were never likely to expose themselves by trying to chase two equalising goals – they didn’t possess the cattle do to so even if they had wanted – but the combination of fatigue and the knowledge that the dam had broken took a toll on their defensive efforts. Combined with the exciting addition of Cortnee Vine, Remy Seimsen, and Holly McNamara off the substitutes bench, the Matildas were able to finish strongly through goals to Van Egmond and Mary Fowler.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of the way that they fought and battled,” Stajčić, the former Matildas boss, said. “The fight and the efforts makes us really proud