Sam Kerr’s 75th international goal has helped the Matildas to a surprisingly tough, controversial 2-0 victory over Kenya in the FIFA Series final.
In front of 20,000 excited home fans in Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday, local time, a goal in each half from skipper Kerr and midfielder Clare Wheeler proved enough for Australia to conclude their ground-breaking jaunt with victory.
But Joe Montemurro’s team departed convinced they had also been robbed of a third goal from Caitlin Foord, which was disallowed for a reason that appeared to leave everyone in the stadium, apart from the referee, baffled.
Nonetheless, the Kenyan hosts showed Kerr’s team that the women’s soccer world is on their tail as the number 128-ranked side proved a match for the Matildas — ranked 15th — in the first half, and only went in 1-0 at half-time because of a horrendous goalkeeping error.
Kenya arguably had earned the best chances before calamity struck the hosts in the 25th minute when, from Jamilla Rankin’s corner, Kerr was found unmarked in the box.
Kerr, though, scuffed her shot somewhat and could hardly believe it when keeper Lillian Awuor let the ball dribble through her fingers. Awuor was so bereft she stomped up and down in agony.
Kenya responded well and twice came close to equalising before the break, first when Shalyne Opisa’s stirring run and shot brought a terrific save from Mackenzie Arnold and then when Fasila Adhiambo stormed down the right flank and fired against the post.
Kerr and Foord linked up twice for chances of an early second-half settler for the Matildas, before Foord wiggled through an obliging Kenyan defence in the 54th minute and picked out Wheeler, whose neat footwork enabled her to jink past a couple of defenders and slot home Australia’s second.
The Matildas believed they had nabbed their third after an hour, when Amy Sayer’s cross just evaded Kerr but found Foord at the far post, who powered the ball in from a narrow angle.
Total confusion then reigned as the referee rushed up to chalk off the goal, seemingly believing it had not gone in. The Matildas and coach Joe Montemurro all protested, and goalscorer Foord ended up getting booked for her continuing arguments.
It meant the Matildas still were not home and dry, and Winonah Heatley was forced to make a terrific intervention to rob Kenyan sub Elizabeth Mideva as she was about to shoot on goal to narrow the deficit.
It had been a landmark afternoon for Alanna Kennedy, who became the fifth Matilda to earn 150 caps and was made captain for the day. The 31-year-old joined teammate Emily van Egmond, Clare Polkinghorne, Cheryl Salisbury and Lisa De Vanna in the elite club.
AAP
