Matildas beat Germany for first time in 19 years thanks to Kyra Cooney-Cross wonder goal
By Simon Smale
Topic:Matildas
Kyra Cooney-Cross levelled with an outrageous long-range strike.
Skip to timelineA stunning goal from Kyra Cooney-Cross and a late header from Clare Hunt has given the Matildas a 2-1, come from behind victory against Germany at the MSV-Arena in Duisburg.
Selina Cerci gave Germany a deserved lead after just five minutes, and the hosts then proceeded to lay siege to Australia's goal, including seeing Felicitas Rauch hit the post and Mackenzie Arnold make two fine saves.
However, after that initial ferocious flurry of chances, Germany were wasteful in the final third and sloppy in possession — and it cost them just before half-time when Cooney-Cross unleashed a special leveller from 35 yards.
The Queenslander spotted Stina Johannes off her line and unleashed a stunning shot that flew inch-perfect into the net.
It had taken 50 appearances for Cooney-Cross to find the goal for her country in senior internationals. It's hard to say it wasn't worth the wait.
"It's up there," Matildas coach Tom Sermanni said in the post-match press conference.
"That just shows how much quality, ability and vision she has.
"It's a real class goal. She got herself in a position where she could have sort of taken it forward, but she spotted the goalkeeper off the line and finished perfectly.
"It was a very difficult finish, and I just saw some of the class there that Kyra has. One of the great goals."
Germany, who made six changes from the side that beat England 4-3 at Wembley, were still wasteful in the final third and were made to pay again when Clare Hunt scored her maiden Matildas goal with a header at the back post.
It is the Matildas first victory over Germany since 2005, a game that came during a previous spell under interim coach Sermanni.
Germany will perhaps leave this game wondering how they contrived to lose it.
In reality though, the Olympic bronze medallists's new coach Christian Wück need look no further than their extraordinary profligacy in the final third of the pitch.
All up, Germany managed 20 shots over the course of the match, but hit the target just six times.
Australia, by contrast, managed six shots in total but tested the keeper on five of those occasions.
On a night where Germany paid tribute to departing legend Alexandra Popp — who was given a ceremonial starting berth for her 145th and final match for Die Frauen — the hosts utterly dominated the opening 15 minutes, pegging Australia back deep inside their own penalty area.
When Popp was taken off at the quarter-hour mark, heralded by an emotional standing ovation, Germany's best moments were already behind them.
Selina Cerci gave Germany a deserved lead.
By then Germany had taken the lead, a header from Cerci after a wicked cross from the right by the energetic Vivien Endemann leaving McKenzie no chance, although it was the Australian keeper's poor goal kick that lead to Germany resuming their pressure.
Much of the Matildas' attacking threat came through Caitlin Foord, who should have had a penalty in the first half after being scythed down in the penalty area, one of three terrific runs of which two resulted in fine saves from German keeper Johannes.
It took though, Cooney-Cross's moment of magic to get the Matildas on the board, moments after an injury to Kaitlyn Torpey saw a formation reshuffle from Sermanni, who introduced striker Michelle Heyman in place of the stricken left back.
The Matildas were better in the second half, threatening more regularly, once again with Foord the tormentor in chief, her trickiness, speed and physicality resulting in bookings for three German players.
Germany were more scrappy, making their maximum six changes but turning over possession with an alacrity that dismayed the home support.
It was that inability to maintain possession that gave the Matildas another chance, which Hunt took with her head, scoring her maiden senior international goal.
It still took a stunning save from Arnold to preserve the Australians' advantage, a brilliant one-handed diving stop as the ball flew through a maze of legs to deny Pia-Sophie Wolter.
But the Matildas were able to hang on, earning a famous victory and just their second ever over Germany.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
Full time!
77' The Matildas take the lead!
Half time: Germany 1-1 Matildas
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Live updates
PinnedLive updates: Germany vs Matildas
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By Simon Smale
SBy Simon Smale
Well, that was a nice way to start Tuesday morning.
A huge win for the Matildas as they look to rebuild their confidence after the disappointment of the Olympic Games.
Tom Sermanni challenged his players to play like an Australian side tonight.
And they may have been under pressure, but in the spirit of the great Matildas teams that have gone before them, they never gave up and have come away with a famous victory.
Thanks for joining me.
We'll see you all in Brisbane when Brazil come to play on November 28.
The final stats
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By Simon Smale
Germany had 74 per cent possession.
They had 20 shots on goal, although just six of them were on target
And completed 588 passes to the Matildas' 214.
Does all that matter" style="width: 650px; height: 433px;" />S
By Simon Smale
YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
- Natty
Matildas made the most of their chances
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By Simon Smale
Such a well deserved win for the Matildas against Germany in Kyra Cooney-Cross' fiftieth game and a remarkable performance from the girls throughout the second half.
- Adam
Germany seem a bit in shock to be honest.
They did dominate in terms of chances made, but they were shockingly wasteful in the final third and it cost them.
Key EventFull time!
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By Simon Smale
Matildas beat Germany for just the second time in their history!
The first time in 19 years!
The Poppi-party has been gatecrashed by Tom Sermanni's Matildas!
90+3' Free kick Germany
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By Simon Smale
Tamika Yallop is arguing her case, but the referee sees that her arms were raised and she gives a free kick for hand ball about 20 yards from goal.
The free kick is floated in and it is comfortably dealt with.
90+1' There will be four minutes to come
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By Simon Smale
Germany has a decent moment on the edge of the penalty area, where the hosts will want to be camped out for the next four minutes or so you'd think.
The Matildas are deeply camped back looking to hold onto their lead.
88' Change for the Matildas
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By Simon Smale
Tamika Yallop comes on for Mary Fowler for the closing stages of the contest.
82' Home fans incensed
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By Simon Smale
Steph Catley is drawing the ire of the 30,000-plus supporters in Duisburg.
The commentators are suggesting it was an issue with the GPS tracker that all the players wear - which means the disgust raining down on her from the stands is perhaps warranted for this time wasting.
79' WHAT A SAVE FROM ARNOLD!
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By Simon Smale
Brilliant from Mackenzie Arnold!
A stunning save from the veteran stopper, unsighted, the shot came in from the edge of the penalty area from Pia-Sophie Wolter through a maze of legs.
A simply wonderful save, her sixth of the night.
Kennedy now blocks a goal-bound shot from the quickly-taken corner!
Key Event77' The Matildas take the lead!
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By Simon Smale
The Matildas hit the front - and it's hard to say that on the balance of play over the last 10 minutes or so, it's not been coming!
The corner was a good one.
The leap from Clare Hunt was exceptional at the back post.
And the header goes in!
It's Clare Hunt's first goal for the Matildas and the Germany crowd is stunned!
76' Cooney-Cross wins corner
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By Simon Smale
The Germans are looking decidedly shaky at the back, giving the ball away a lot and they get caught out here as well, Cooney-Cross swinging a cross in that is helped behind for a corner.
75' Felicitas Rauch is booked
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By Simon Smale
Caitlin Foord is fouled once again, the third time she has been fouled enough for an opponent to give away a yellow card.
Felicitas Rauch is the guilty party this time, having been turned by Foord and then cynically hauls the Matilda down.
72' Sjoeke Nüsken booked for a foul on Foord
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By Simon Smale
Sjoeke Nüsken gives the ball away to Caitlin Foord.
Sjoeke Nüsken rugby tackles Caitlin Foord.
Sjoeke Nüsken gets a yellow card.
69' Winonah Heatley booked
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By Simon Smale
Welcome to senior international football, Winonah Heatley.
She tangles with Nicole Anyomi and blatantly fouls her, earning a booking for her troubles.
67' Winonah Heatley comes on for her debut
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By Simon Smale
Wonderful for Heatley, the former Brisbane Roar player from Far North Queensland gets a cap in a full international for the first time.
Sharn Freier comes on as well, another Queenslander.
Michelle Heyman, a sub at the end of the first half, has been taken off, which is somewhat unusual.
Clare Wheeler is the other player who makes way.
63' Foord's defensive nous on display
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By Simon Smale
Wolter is furious at having conceded a free kick, saying (quite rightly) that Foord was hanging off her shirt.
That may well be true, but the Germany sub had already committed a foul according to the referee.
The crowd is not amused.
Has to be said that Foord has been brilliant defensively as well as in attack tonight.
61' Chance Germany!
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By Simon Smale
Another cross from Wolter, this one right on the byline.
The ball was targeted towards Nicole Anyomi, it went over her head and onto the foot of Lina Magull, who wasn't ready for the chance and it popped off her shin.
That's really poor anticipation from Magull, who had to expect a chance there, a let off for the Aussies.
60' Chance Germany
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By Simon Smale
Wolter, one of those new changes, has swung a cross in from the right side but it's quite easily dealt with by Mackenzie Arnold.
That will please Germany coach Christian Wück, his subs getting involved straight away.
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