Michelle Heyman’s last-gasp goal spares Matildas’ blushes in draw with China
Australia 1-1 China as Heyman (90+5) cancels out Zhang (30)Sub Caitlin Foord plays only 15 minutes due to injury concern
It was always anticipated there would be questions for the Matildas after their friendly against China on Friday night, just not the ones now being raised after an uninspiring 1-1 draw. With just days until Tony Gustavsson will reveal the 18 players to earn a place in his squad at the Paris Olympics, the conversation coming out of Adelaide Oval was supposed to revolve around who had put their hand up for one of the few select spots the coach had indicated were still in dispute. But then the game happened, and once again concerns surrounding the Matildas’ ability to function in possession and the depth that exists beyond the established starting XI have again come to the fore.
Unable to find their way through a well-disciplined and well-structured Chinese defence, it took the Australians until the 50th minute to record a shot in anger. It was an unremarkable one as well; a back-peddling Alanna Kennedy sending a header well wide from almost the top of the box from the second phase of a corner. This, however, was immediately followed by China making their way up the other end and sending their fifth attempt of the game wide.
