The atmosphere was electric at the Marvel Stadium, with a record-breaking audience of over 50,000 spectators. The crowd had gathered to watch the Matildas v France Women’s World Cup warmup match. As the teams lined up, the tension was palpable as the world’s fifth-ranked team, France, was pitted against the Matildas.
Record breaking crowd
SEND OFF GAME ⚽️
— Marvel Stadium (@marvelstadiumau) July 14, 2023
🇦🇺 Matilda’s v France 🇫🇷
Official Attendance: 50,629 🏟️
Record breaking crowd for a standalone @TheMatildas match! 📈
The first 60 minutes of the Matildas v France Women’s World Cup warmup match saw the Matildas create numerous scoring opportunities. However, their inability to capitalise on the final ball meant they were unable to break the deadlock. France had three strong attempts, which the Australian defence managed to stave off valiantly.
Mary Fowler’s winning goal
The game had been a tough battle and remained nil all until the 66th minute when Mary Fowler netted the only goal of the match.
Her goal was a moment of great satisfaction for coach Tony Gustavsson, especially considering that star Matildas players Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord had already been substituted off.
Tameka Yallop’s injury
The Matilda’s victory wasn’t all roses, with Tameka Yallop suffering a knee hyperextension during a challenge for the ball. She will now be racing against the clock with only six days before their inaugural match against Ireland in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Stay up to date on the FIFA Women’s World Cup with everything you need to know.
Feature image: Facebook — CommBank Matildas
