THEY may be departing Tokyo 2020 without medals to show for their considerable efforts, but all 22 players in the Matildas squad can hold their heads high after taking it to a number of talent-laden nations to secure a fourth-place finish at the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament.
Australia’s fate was sealed on Thursday night when Tony Gustavsson’s side fell to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of footballing powerhouse United States in the tournament’s bronze medal match.
The see-sawing contest saw Australia come from three goals down in the second half to finish the game on the front foot, pressing to the end to find an equaliser which seemed an inevitability had the clock run for five more minutes.
But Australia’s comeback efforts were thwarted by the full-time whistle, as United States clinched bronze and the Matildas finished fourth.
It was a disappointing result on the night, but an overwhelmingly positive outcome on the whole as the Matildas progressed further than ever before at an Olympic tournament, with a number of rising stars giving the nation a glimpse at the bright future ahead leading into the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held on home soil in 2023.
Amongst Australia’s best performers against United States were five stars of the 2020/21 W-League campaign. Read on to see how they fared in the Matildas’ final fixture at Tokyo 2020!
Teagan Micah
Teagan Micah’s progression as one of Australia’s best emerging prospects was clear for the world to see throughout Tokyo 2020, and despite shipping four goals against United States the 23-year-old ‘keeper can be proud of her performance in the bronze medal match.
Micah was exposed to the generational talent possessed by both Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd as the pair of United States legends put on a show at Kashima Stadium, scoring two goals apiece.
With three of the four goals executed with stunning finishes and the fourth coming from miscommunication between both Micah and Matildas centre-back Alanna Kennedy, Micah will look back on this particular fixture and gain plenty of knowledge on how to handle some of the world’s top attacking players, taking footballing lessons in her stride as her exciting young career continues to unfold.
Micah made five saves on Thursday night, twice denying Christen Press a goal early in the game.
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Emily Gielnik
Emily Gielnik’s sixth substitute appearance of the tournament came with one emphatic difference against United States, with the 2020/21 W-League Golden Boot winner crunching home one of the goals of the tournament to bring Australia back to within a goal late in the piece.
Gielnik replaced Clare Polkinghorne with 17 minutes to play, as Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson shifted his back three to a conventional back four, throwing Gielnik into attack to help Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord in their attempts to haul Australia back into the contest.
In the 90th minute of play Gielnik managed to do just that, receiving the ball on the turn and galloping through the centre of the park toward the 18-yard-box. She sized up the target and buried a lethal, driven shot off her right peg into the bottom left corner of goal. The sensational strike heaped the pressure on United States late on, but unfortunately it was too little, too late for the Matildas.
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Tameka Yallop
Playing out of position once more, Tameka Yallop did herself and the nation proud with yet another battling performance at left wing-back for the Matildas.
Ellie Carpenter’s suspension heaped pressure on Australia’s defensive unit for the bronze medal match, and Gustavsson elected to pull Yallop out of central midfield to plug a gap out wide for the third time in the tournament.
With less than 20 minutes to play, the formation shake-up saw Yallop move from left wing-back to traditional right-back to free Steph Catley to roam down the left wing. Yallop took 65 touches and engaged in six duels throughout her 88 minutes of game time before coming off for Laura Brock with two minutes to play.
The battle-hardened Brisbane Roar star of 2020/21 will take a well-earned rest after a relentless Tokyo 2020 campaign before venturing to England to join up with FA Women’s Super League outfit West Ham.
Clare Polkinghorne
It was a tough day at the office for Clare Polkinghorne, who came into the starting XI in place of the suspended Carpenter and proceeded to face a tirade of offensive pressure from United States throughout her 73 minutes on the park.
The eventual bronze medalists pressed Australia’s defensive line for the majority of the contest, encouraging Australia to cough up possession under consistent duress. Polkinghorne took 46 touches and laid 30 passes at 76.7% accuracy throughout the game, winning 83.3% of her six duels, making three tackles and three ball recoveries before coming off for Gielnik in the 73rd minute.
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Melbourne Victory teen Kyra Cooney-Cross was unable to find her moment to shine in a tournament built for the current era of bona fide Australian heroes to take centre stage – but her time is sure to come in Green and Gold. What Cooney-Cross did manage to acquire throughout Tokyo 2020 was 141 minutes of football on the world stage, including 23 against United States on Thursday night.
Much like Micah and 18-year-old sensation Mary Fowler, Cooney-Cross will bank all of her Olympic experiences and use them to rise to the next level, with the knowledge that further opportunities in the Matildas ranks are not far away.
Courtney Nevin
Western Sydney Wanderers defender Courtney Nevin got her first taste of Olympic action against United States, playing 23 minutes off the bench.
The 19-year-old won 100% of her four duels and two aerial battles throughout her time on the park, taking 20 touches and laying 15 passes after replacing Hayley Raso in the Matildas lineup.
