If anybody can understand the thirst for a settling post-injury goal, it’s Sam Kerr. It was obvious on Sunday in the way she celebrated after scoring her first for the Matildas in 851 days. It was also clear on Thursday when she ran to embrace Mary Fowler, fellow forward of ACL-tear rapport, to celebrate her teammate’s return to the international scoresheet.
The 4-0 defeat of Iran was Fowler’s first start in almost a year since injuring her knee while playing for Manchester City last April, and the 23-year-old made it count by tapping home Australia’s second goal.
“It was a hump for her,” Kerr said. “I feel like that first goal back after an injury is always, you just want to get on so the monkey’s off your back. But I was really happy for her. It’s always nice to score goals for your country, but especially after a long break.”
That Fowler was fit for Asian Cup selection at all was a pleasant surprise given many footballers need at least a year of rehabilitation. To the contrary, all signs pointed to a comeback after only eight months, though Fowler wanted to play it conservative and give it a bit more time. She gave it nine and a half months, and came off the bench for City on February 1.
In Australia’s second Asian Cup group game she was a threat everywhere she went, as part of a formidable front-three combination with Kerr and Caitlin Foord, not to mention Amy Sayer’s eye-catching cross-cum-goal and Alanna Kennedy’s brace. Kerr and Foord both had goals disallowed for offside.
“She’s lucky she’s got age on her side,” Kerr said. “When you do it at a young age it’s much easier to get back. But look at the shape she’s in. She’s fit and firing and she’s done really well. She’s done a big effort and I think her club’s been really good to her.
Sam Kerr congratulates Fowler on her return to the international scoreboard.Credit: Getty Images
“Nowadays we’re really lucky with the support we have. Big credit to Mary for getting back. I know this tournament was her goal, so I think she’s prolonged it – she probably could have come back a little bit earlier.”
The result sets the Matildas up for a decisive third game against South Korea, who lead Group A on goal difference and need only draw in Sydney on Sunday night to finish top.
Australia have already qualified for the knockout stages by virtue of their two wins but must defeat the team who knocked them out of the 2022 Asian Cup quarter-finals to confirm top spot and secure a path towards a semi-final meeting with favourites Japan.
Where the Philippines and Iran both defended for 90 minutes, coach Joe Montemurro predicted “a wrestling match” as South Korea and Australia fight to dominate. And he reiterated the inferior goal difference did not concern him because his aim was simply to win.
Raso undergoes a concussion test.Credit: Getty Images
“I don’t like playing the Russian roulette of goals, and those calculations, they never work,” Montemurro said. “Even if we got the goal scenario, I would never let this team go in and say, ‘all we need is a draw to top the group’. It doesn’t work. We always knew that we needed to win this game, so for me it’s just business as usual.”
Montemurro made five changes for the Iran game, following through on his promise to rotate his 26-player squad throughout a tournament replete with tight turnarounds. It’s expected he will tinker some more with his starting XI for the match at Stadium Australia, with the key exception of the Kerr-Fowler-Foord trio – though Kerr and Fowler’s minutes will be managed “in a common-sense way”.
It remains unclear if that XI will include Hayley Raso, who was introduced late as a substitute and hit twice in the face by the ball from close range. The Eintracht Frankfurt winger passed the first concussion test but was withdrawn after the second knock.
“We’re assessing it at the moment,” Montemurro said. “Obviously, those sort of injuries, we didn’t want to take any risks, so we got her off as quick as we could. [Medical staff] were sort of starting to analyse the situation, so we’ll let you know as the hours go on and what the outcome is.”
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
