Matildas beat Mexico in Cup warm-up

Updated June 21, 2011 07:52:00

Lauren Colthorpe scored in her 50th international football match and Sally Shipard and Kyah Simon chipped in with one each as Australia came from behind to beat Mexico 3-2 in a World Cup warm-up match in Germany.

The Matildas began their first practice match with plenty of energy before the dominant strike pairing of Maribel Dominguez and Monica Ocampo put the Mexicans in front with two goals in the space of three minutes.

But the Matildas played themselves back into the contest and went into the half-time break 2-2 following goals from Colthorpe and Shipard.

Simon sealed the win in the 63rd minute.

"To come back against any team 2-0 down is a huge positive," coach Tom Sermanni said.

"I think it was a game of mixed qualities for us; I thought at times we dominated possession and had some really good passages of play and at times we left ourselves exposed when we gave away simple balls.

"It was fortuitous that we had a game like this first up and see the things we need to work on rather than go into the first game at the start of the tournament with a false sense of security."

The Matildas will play one final preparation match against England on Thursday in Wolfsburg before moving to Dusseldorf for the beginning of the World Cup.

They open against Brazil on June 29.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand team completed its build-up with a 1-0 loss to Denmark in Naters, Switzerland.

The Football Ferns finished the Matchworld Cup tournament in second place behind the Danes after wins over Wales, 2-0, and Colombia, 1-0.

Colombia defeated Wales 3-1 in the tournament's final match to seal third place.

- AAP

Tags: sport, football, australia, germany, mexico

First posted June 21, 2011 07:45:00

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Matildas beat NZ in final Cup warm-up

Posted May 15, 2011 18:04:00

Australia has extended its winning streak against New Zealand to 20, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the Matildas' final home match before next month's World Cup in Germany.

Sunday's result follows a confident 3-0 win over the Football Ferns three days earlier - also at Gosford's Bluetongue Stadium.

Australia's preparations for the match were overshadowed with star striker Lisa De Vanna sent back to her club in the US on the morning of game two.

The scorer of four goals at the 2007 World Cup in China was dismissed from camp following persistent breaches of team discipline during the week.

The Matildas' World Cup planning had already been hit by injury to Kate Gill, with the prolific striker ruled out with a knee injury.

The Matildas were without numerous other players against New Zealand, with Heather Garriock, Sarah Walsh, Thea Slatyer, Caitlin Foord and Teigan Allen all recovering from injury.

Australia started well with Catherine Cannuli grabbing her debut international goal in just her second outing.

The Sydney FC forward headed home a Sam Kerr cross from close range.

The goal only served to inspire the visitors, who were centimetres from equalising when a corner caused havoc in the penalty area, with Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri grabbing a half-hit effort on the goal line.

The Kiwis were rewarded on 26 minutes with an equaliser - their first goal against Australia in five meetings - with striker Hannah Wilkinson converting from close range.

Australia started to find some cohesion late in the opening half of a fiery trans Tasman contest in front of 2,866 spectators, when Collette McCallum hit the crossbar from a corner.

McCallum then provided a moment of inspiration nine minutes after the interval to break the deadlock.

The scorer of one of the goals of the tournament at the 2007 World Cup curled a trademark free-kick inside the near post in the decisive moment of the match.

- AAP

Tags: sport, football, australia, nsw, gosford-2250, new-zealand

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