The Matildas have rebounded from their recent defeat to Germany in emphatic fashion, thrashing Haiti 7-1 in what was a morale-boosting display in France on Tuesday morning.
Despite missing Arsenal star Steph Catley, who was withdrawn from the squad due to load management, Joe Montemurro’s team flew out of the blocks in Chambery, Northern France.
Former Melbourne City star Leticia McKenna, who set a new outbound transfer record for the Ninja A-League following her move to English side Nottingham Forest, opening the scoring inside two minutes with an excellent half-volley to set the Tillies on their way, or so they thought.
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Having gone a goal down Haiti responded almost immediately through Lyon attacking midfielder Melchie Dumornay, who stormed through the Matildas midfield before slotting the ball beyond Mackenzie Arnold and into the far corner.
McKenna then bagged her second of the game on the stroke of half-time as she found herself in the right place at the right time to convert a loose ball inside the box and from then on the Matildas never looked back.
A 53rd minute own goal from defender Kethna Louis, who diverted Sam Kerr’s cutback into her own net, was then followed by a fourth goal in the 65th minute as Kerr turned provider for teammate Caitlin Foord, who dispatched from close range to make it 4-1.
From then on the floodgates were well and truly open and it was a special moment for young midfielder Daniela Galic, who received an inch-perfect through ball from Alana Murphy before slotting the ball into the far corner to score her first for the Matildas.
Not done there, the Matildas made it 6-1 in 79th minute as Clare Wheeler added a goal to her assist on the night as her attempted cross sailed over the head of the keeper and into the back of the net before former 2025/26 Ninja A-League Golden Boot winner Holly McNamara put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute, beating the offside trap before finishing with ease to make it 7-1.
The win for Matildas boss Joe Montemurro will no doubt come as the perfect tonic to last week’s 4-2 loss to Germany, with attention now turning to domestic matters.
The 2026/27 Ninja A-League season gets underway on Saturday, October 17 with Newcastle Jets hosting Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers welcoming Melbourne Victory to Wanderers Football Park.
