Adelaide catches a glimpse of the new Matildas era as Asian Cup preparations continue
- Antonis Pagonis
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
After selling out Adelaide Oval in 2024, the Matildas returned to South Australia in 2025 to give the locals a glimpse of the new era at the state's home of football, Coopers Stadium.
The reality of a state with a lower population than its eastern seaboard counterparts is that national team appearances can be rare at worst and inconsistent at best.
When Football Australia announced that the Matildas were visiting Adelaide to take on New Zealand in December, locals were pleasantly surprised, as the national team had only sold out Adelaide Oval a year and a half ago when Tony Gustavsson's side took on China in the lead-up to the Olympics.
While the time between Matildas appearances has not been extensive, it has been eventful. Gustavsson vacated the role after the Asian Cup, with Tom Sermanni taking over for an extended interim stint.
The reason for Sermanni's lengthy tenure became evident when Football Australia announced the signing of Joe Montemurro as Head Coach to transition the Matildas into a new era.
Montemurro's first major task is preparing his side for a hotly anticipated home Asian Cup.
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The two-game series against New Zealand served a dual purpose. It allowed players to build their confidence and ability to execute Montemurro's playing style, while also allowing the coach the opportunity to work towards his preferred starting lineup.
That fact became clear an hour before kickoff when the starting lineups were released, announcing Sam Kerr's first starting appearance on home soil in 763 days.
You did not have to be a football fan to understand who the team's star was, as an otherwise mild crowd, primarily young families, rose to a fever pitch whenever Kerr approached the ball.
On her part, Kerr was arguably the highlight of the game in the 45 minutes she played. Strikers play many roles, and on Tuesday night, it was clear Kerr's focus was on facilitating.
Australia's forward showed positive signs as she continues re-integrating into regular football after a long injury layoff. Kerr's deft touches and intelligence created multiple chances for her teammates.
Notably, in the 19th minute, Kerr's close control and subsequent pass allowed Hayley Raso to charge into the box. Her opponent blocked Raso, but the ball was not cleared, inviting Alanna Kennedy, playing a midfield role, to smash home the opener.
The Matildas continued to play confident football, but after a 5-0 defeat days earlier, New Zealand was much more cautious in defending against Australia's attacks.
Montemurro utilised his bench at the break, giving rests to Kerr and Carpenter directly after the interval to allow Courtney Nevin and Holly McNamara a chance to impress.
The hosts doubled their lead through another crowd favourite in Raso, who beautifully dispatched a shot after New Zealand were unable to adequately clear a set piece in the 70th minute.
New Zealand may have left Australia empty-handed after their two games against the Matildas. But the series provided the opportunity for Annalie Longo to close out her career with the Ferns. Her second-half introduction provided a touching moment when Football Australia organised a tribute for her, which the home crowd reciprocated with a hearty round of applause.
While the match lacked the fireworks of its counterpart days earlier, it was another critical step in preparations for the Asian Cup in early 2026. Montemurro's game style is clear, and the signs are there that his side is building in confidence.
The question remains how it will look against teams of a higher calibre that Australia will have to face if it is to reward its golden generation with silverware.
A two-goal win sent the 15,097 fans home happy after another visit by the team that made the nation dream only two years ago, as it builds towards another highly anticipated campaign as hosts of a major tournament.