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As it happened Women’s World Cup 2023: Mary Fowler scores the winner as Matildas beat France 1-0 in front of record crowd

Roy Ward
Updated ,first published

Key Posts

Injury wrap from both sides
‘I always forget to celebrate’: Fowler happy with her winning goal
Our World Cup predictor
Fowler’s goal
FT: Matildas 1, France 0
A golden moment for Fowler
Tonight’s crowd is 50,629 - a new record
Matildas turn to experienced duo as Kerr, Foord come off
Hammy, shoulder, knees and nose: Alanna Kennedy’s horrendous year of injuries
HT: Matildas 0, France 0

That’s all for tonight

By

As the Marvel Stadium crew get to work on taking down the soccer fittings and bringing back the AFL markings, I will call it a night on the blog.

The Matildas have claimed a 1-0 win over France in front of a record crowd of 50,629 at Marvel Stadium and they will go into next Friday night’s World Cup opener with confidence sky-high.

Thanks for all the comments and interactions tonight, please keep checking back with us for more Matildas and World Cup stories as we get ready for a magical few weeks to come.

Bye for now.

Injury wrap from both sides

By Roy Ward

Both Australia and France have a few injury concerns to keep an eye on ahead of their FIFA Women’s World Cup opening games next weekend.

Here is a brief wrap with more information to come from the respective teams in the days to come.

Selma Bacha of France is injured during the International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and France.Getty Images

Sam Kerr’s hamstring was iced up following her substitution which was planned for at the hour mark.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said Kerr was being managed and he expected she would be fit to face Ireland although he was coy on whether she was managing an injury or just a knock.

‘I always forget to celebrate’: Fowler happy with her winning goal

By Roy Ward

When Mary Fowler scores for the Matildas it seems everything goes out the window.

Any plans for a special celebration, any thoughts about anything at all - Fowler admits she just takes in the joy of the moment and that is exactly what she did when she scored the winning goal in Australia’s 1-0 victory over France at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

Mary Fowler, left, is hugged by Tameka Yallop.Getty Images

Fowler, who made her Matildas debut as a 15-year-old and is now an established player in the side with 10 goals from 37 games, shapes as one of several potential game-changers in Tony Gustavsson’s side.

“I can’t even remember what I was thinking about,” Fowler said.

“I always forget to celebrate. It all happens so fast then I look back and say ’Why didn’t I do something?

“I feel like it just happens in the moment when you are not thinking, you are just happy.”

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Our World Cup predictor

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Full match report

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The Matildas have completed their final preparations before the World Cup kicks off next week with a 1-0 victory over world No.5 France in front of a record-breaking crowd of 50,629 at Marvel Stadium.

It’s their latest scalp against a top-10 outfit after ending England’s 30-game winning streak in April with a shock 2-0 victory.

Australia’s Mary Fowler scores a goal against France in send-off friendly.Getty

The bumper crowd surpassed the biggest attendance for a standalone women’s soccer match in Australia, previously held by the Matildas when they played the United States in 2021 in front of 36,109 people at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

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‘Overly physical’ match in Brisbane abandoned

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A friendly match between Women’s World Cup-bound teams Ireland and Colombia was abandoned after becoming overly physical, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said on Friday.

The game in Brisbane, Australia, which was played behind closed doors, was called off after 20 minutes.

“The game, which was held in Meakin Park, Brisbane, became overly physical and it was decided, following consultation with the match officials, to end the game,” the FAI said in a statement.

“The Ireland team then underwent a full training session to continue preparations for their opening game in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023...”

Irish media reported that midfielder Denise O’Sullivan was taken to hospital after suffering a shin injury during the match.

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Fowler’s goal

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The Matildas goal came as somewhat of a surprise given they had only just subbed their two star strikers, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, out of the game but in their absence, others stepped up.

Mary Fowler had come on at half-time and added some run to the attack, she kept finding room in and around the box and was the focal point once the two stars came off.

Australia’s Mary Fowler scores a goal against France in send-off friendly.Getty

Hayley Raso broke down the right and Fowler was unmarked as she took a spot just above the keeper’s box.

Unlike previous Australian attacks that had been snuffed out, this time Raso’s pass was inch perfect going to Fowler’s feet and allowing her to settle and then strike home from close range.

FT: Matildas 1, France 0

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Mary Fowler’s second half strike has given the Matildas a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over France at Marvel Stadium in their final friendly match before the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Fowler’s goal in the 66th minute was all that separated the home side from the world No.5 French side who regularly threatened but couldn’t find a goal.

Mary Fowler of the Matildas celebrates scoring a goal with Tameka Yallop of the Matildas.Getty Images

A Matildas Australian record crowd of 50,629 cheered on the home side.

The Matildas will also take some belief from the fact their scored their goal after star strikers Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord were subbed off on the hour to protect them ahead of the tournament opener next Friday night.

Five minutes injury time to go

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There will be five minutes of injury time.

This is a super test of the Matildas’ ability to hold a lead with the opposition desperately chasing a late goal.

Aus 1, Fra 0 after 90 minutes.

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Matildas holding solid

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The Matildas are holding up, so far, as the clock ticks down on this match.

France had a fleeting moment with the ball deep in the box but they couldn’t get a shot away and it was cleared.

Polkinghorne’s experience in defence is helping while the nimble attackers no doubt have stopped the French from taking a more aggressive formation and sending more players forward.

Aus 1, Fra 0 after 88 minutes.

Australia’s Katrina Gorry, centre, carries the ball up through France’s defence.AP
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