Live updates: Matildas vs Mexico, international friendly in Newcastle

Live updates: Matildas vs Mexico

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By Simon Smale

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30' Matildas hit the post!

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By Simon Smale

Caitlin Foord races up field and finds Sam Kerr.

The flag went up for offside against Kerr, even though she was very on side - there is no VAR here I am told by Channel 10 - so that's not ideal.

Amy Sayer was central and Kerr's squared pass finds her, with her shot hitting the post.

It wouldn't have counted, but a counter attack effort from the Matildas.

It's broken down quickly...

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By Simon Smale

We don’t seem to have any plan for getting it out of the backline. Passing it back and forward and to the keeper is eventually a losing strategy imho.

- Phillip

There is a huge risk in passing the ball out from the back against a team that has a physical press, but I am not sure that is the issue at the moment with the Matildas.

Just a moment ago Alanna Kennedy powered a clearance away up field to where she thought Sam Kerr would be.

But Sam Kerr was nowhere near there and the ball was turned over disappointingly.

I think it's in midfield that the Matildas look very wobbly, unable to hold possession for more than a couple of passes - which has been the issue for a while.

The Mexicans started slowly, but now they've woken up.

23' 'We've lost our way': Montemurro

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By Simon Smale

Joe Montemurro is up in the technical area and he's warning his team to switch on a bit.

"Let's get organised together," he shouts.

"We've lost our way."

It's true, after a dominant opening 15 minutes the Mexicans are the ones who look far more threatening.

21' Mexico on top

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By Simon Smale

It's a good passage of play from the visitors here.

María Sánchez gets the ball in the penalty area from the right side sees the forward spin and try and centre for Kiana Palacios on the turn.

It would have been one hell of an assist had she managed to pull it off, but another shaky moment at the back for the Matildas.

20' Brilliant chance Mexico

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By Simon Smale

The Matildas need to be careful here, as the hosts are spared conceding the opener only thanks to a heavy touch from Alexia Delgado.

A better touch and she only would have had Arnold to beat.

19' Great chance for Mexico!

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By Simon Smale

The defensive midfield disappears for the Matildas there.

A simple ball out from the back by Mexico out wide to Nicolette Hernández on the left.

She crosses to Montserrat Saldívar at the near post, who can't direct her shot between the posts.

14' Mexico has the first shot on goal

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By Simon Smale

Nicolette Hernández didn't need a second invitation to shoot there, the Mexicans moving the ball nicely up field towards Hernández, who takes the ball, takes a couple of touches, and fires a low shot towards Makenzie Arnold.

Arnold dives to her left and makes a comfortable save, but there was some venom in the shot and it's the first save either keeper has had to make.

13' Kerr heads over!

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By Simon Smale

Lovely football from the Matildas.

Great work from Catley to win the ball in midfield, finding Emily van Egmond with her pass.

Van Egmond then lays a lovely pass out wide to Foord, whose flat cross was perfectly placed for Kerr, but an awkward trajectory for the ex-Chelsea striker who heads over.

12' Matildas still probing for an opening

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By Simon Smale

Kerr and Foord link up nicely on the edge of the penalty area, Kaitlyn Torpey providing the pass into the dangerous area on the left.

Kerr turned and found Foord, whose turn was just as tight inside the penalty area, but the Mexican defence holds firm and clears.

10' Flowing stuff from the Matildas

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By Simon Smale

That is a remarkable pass from Mary Fowler.

The Matildas move the ball quickly out the back.

Ellie Carpenter pokes the ball forward away from her marker towards Sayer on the half way line.

She lays it off to Fowler on the right, whose pass in to Kerr was a peach.

Kerr, however, took a very heavy touch that negated the threat and the ball scrambles behind for a goal kick.

7' Mexico with a moment

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By Simon Smale

That was a brief moment for Mexico.

The Matildas took their time at the back and María Sánchez was right on the back of Wini Heatley.

She shows remarkable composure though to play the ball across to Arnold, who then lays it out to Kennedy who settles things.

6' Fowler blasts over

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By Simon Smale

Nice flowing football in and around the box this time from the Matildas, Mexico just unable to clear their lines.

Fowler runs onto the lay off pass from van Egmond and smashes a shot towards goal, but it's well over the bar.

5' Kerr getting involved

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By Simon Smale

Lovely long ball over the top for Kerr to run onto this time.

Kerr had the chance to shoot it seemed there, but cut the ball back inside to Emily van Egmond, who couldn't get her shot away.

The Matildas are picking and choosing how they are cutting through this Mexican defence so far, and they've not found a method that hasn't worked yet.

3' Matildas bossing play early

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By Simon Smale

First real scything attack there for the Matildas, who have barely given the Mexicans a sniff of the ball in the opening exchanges.

Mary Fowler passed nicely into Caitlin Foord on the left side of the penalty area.

The Arsenal striker looked to cut inside and fire with her right foot but her shot was blocked at source.

1' We're underway in Newcastle

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By Simon Smale

Mexico in their patterned dark green shirts kick off, Australia in their predominantly gold jerseys rush forward to close them down.

The players are on the field, the national anthems are being sung

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By Simon Smale

Some super-excitable mascots out there, jumping up and down in excitement after the Mexican national anthem there, which is lovely.

Sam Kerr, meanwhile, has the smallest and cutest mascot I think I've seen anywhere.

Lovely stuff.

All the pre-match stuff is out of the way, it's time to play ball.

ABC coverage of the FIFA World Cup

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By Simon Smale

Just a quick reminder for you all, the men's FIFA World Cup gets underway at 5:00am on Friday morning AEST, with Mexico hosting South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.

ABC Sport will have full coverage of the tournament, including live blogs of every single one of the 104 matches.

And, to get you into the mood (and the early kick off times) Chris De Silva will be live blogging the Socceroos clash with Switzerland from 5:00am AEST tomorrow morning.

Mexico 'the perfect team' to help the Matildas develop

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By Simon Smale

Mexico are the "perfect" team to help the Matildas prepare for next year's World Cup, according to Kaitlyn Torpey.

"I think it's just perfect preparation for us to go to Brazil," the Newcastle United defender.

"They're the perfect team, they are really good quality.

"I know some of the players there, and they're super passionate and super technical, so it will be really exciting, another challenge for us

"And it's a different style of football, so it will be good prep for Brazil."

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