Joe Montemurro, the new Matildas coach, acknowledged that his team revealed defensive weaknesses, leading to a 1-1 draw against Slovenia on Sunday night in Perth. Despite dominating possession for much of the match, the Matildas faltered in the final 20 minutes, allowing Slovenia to score their first-ever goal against Australia in stoppage time.
In an intense moment, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold initially saved a shot but inadvertently deflected it to Slovenia’s Mirjam Kastelec, who capitalised on the mistake. Montemurro stated that the equaliser stemmed from issues in midfield rather than the defence, indicating a lack of compactness and ineffective pressing up front. He highlighted the necessity for the forwards to act as the team’s first line of defence to prevent such breakdowns.
Although the Matildas had fewer turnovers compared to their previous match—a 3-0 victory against Slovenia—Montemurro felt there was progress in their playing style, which prioritises proactive, possession-based football. He noted that the attacking movements were ahead of schedule in terms of breaking lines and advancing play, although he acknowledged that more work was needed.
Montemurro also mentioned that managing player fatigue required significant lineup changes for this encounter, with six new faces, including Arnold and goal scorer Michelle Heyman. He insisted this was not an excuse and credited Slovenia for applying pressure late in the game.
The Matildas now look forward to their upcoming two-match series against Panama, which kicks off in Bunbury on Saturday. Montemurro believes the team is slowly developing the understanding and belief necessary for the philosophy he aims to instill.