Football Australia’s search for a full-time successor to Tony Gustavsson has now stretched into its seventh month following the Swede’s exit following the Paris Olympics and while the federation has been adamant that they have plenty of time to find a successor – given that the Matildas’ next competitive fixture won’t come until the opening game of a home Asian Cup next March – the sense of urgency surrounding the need to appoint someone is growing by the day.
The English coach has 11 changes made to the starting line-up that downed Colombia last week – just the sixth time in the 758-game history of this side that they’ve changed all eleven players from one game to the next and the first since January, 2000.
7 Mins: Australia gets the ball into the USWNT’s penalty area for the first time, with Grant’s speculative cross from the left claimed by McGlynn.
Japan’s red hot form has continued in today’s earlier fixture, putting up another four-spot as they downed Colombia 4-1 thanks to goals from Momoko Tanikawa, Mina Tanaka (who now has two braces in two games), and Maika Hamano.
Less than 60 seconds into the contest, the hosts win the ball and move through the Australian defence with a casual ease, Shaw bursting into space on the left-side of the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Biyendolo to finish from close range.
