That’s all from us - for now. Tony Gustavsson has just begun his post-match press conference, so stay tuned for my wrap of his comments and Australia’s performance overall. It’ll be online later this afternoon.
Cheers for joining us.
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Thanks and goodbye
Game over - the Matildas win 2-0
And that’s all she wrote. The Matildas have prevailed 2-0, and have done it rather comfortably in the end. Hayley Raso’s early goal got them off to a cracking start, and then Caitlin Foord provided an absolute peace of a second goal not long after half-time.
They got the test they wanted in Mexico’s high press and came through it pretty well, despite a couple of scares here and there.
Tony Gustavsson will be happy with some great individual performances from players like Foord, Ellie Carpenter, Cooney-Cross and Kaitlyn Torpey, got some much-needed minutes into Clare Wheeler, and handed a debut out to Sharn Freier there at the death.
Two more games to go, both against China, until the Olympics - although they could slot in one or two more friendlies before they get to Paris.
We have a debutant
Brisbane Roar’s Sharn Freier becomes the newest Matilda - cap number 228. She’s just come on for Kyra Cooney-Cross, who has been quietly excellent yet again in midfield. That’s substitution number five by Tony Gustavsson.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 88 minutes
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Almost a disaster at the back
Ooft. That could have been bad. The Matildas just turned the ball over at the top of their defensive box as they tried to play out from the back - Jasmine Casarez pounces on it and shoots but it goes straight down Mackenzie Arnold’s throat, easy save. But that was less than ideal overall. They’ve found a second wind, here, the hosts.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 84 minutes
Gustavsson turns to the bench again
Substitution number four: off comes Kaitlin Torpey, who has been fantastic in just her third cap, and on comes Charlotte Grant, the new-ish Tottenham Hotspur signing. She’ll slot in at left-back, which is not her usual position, but she’s done it before for Australia, and needs to put her best foot forward here to maintain her position in that race for the 18 squad berths at the Olympics.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 80 minutes
So close to a third goal
Another lovely move - some terrific one-two work there from Vine, Foord and Carpenter, the latter ending up with the ball on the right flank, floating in a cross to the back stick. It looks off the boot like it’s a bit overblown, but Mary Fowler manages to meet it in the air and nods it only just over the bar. Good, good football.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 79 minutes
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Wheeler has a free header
This game has lost a bit of rhythm, as tends to happen when both sides go with a triple substitution. Now it’s a bit chaotic. Which is good and bad. But anyway, the Matildas have a corner … an unmarked Clare Wheeler gets her head on it but it goes over the bar.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 72 minutes
Vine is straight into it
Seconds after coming onto the field, Fowler tees up Cortnee Vine, who squeezes a shot between two Mexican defenders closing in on her - and it’s parried away by the goalkeeper. Good to see she’s not wasting any time.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 64 minutes
And here’s three changes for Australia
Tony G must be reading this blog.
Michelle Heyman, Steph Catley and Hayley Raso are off - Clare Polkinghorne, Clare Wheeler and Cortnee Vine are on.
Now let’s see if we learn a couple of things.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 63 minutes
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A rare clear-cut chance for Mexico
Mexico fires off a shot via Jasmine Casarez, but there’s nothing really doing - narrow angle, hits the side netting. They’ve been well contained by Australia here, and have had very few clear-cut chances.
Meanwhile, their coach has just rung a triple-change. Tony Gustavsson, on the other hand… still nothing.
Mexico 0-2 Australia, 58 minutes
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