Grant strike seals Matildas comeback victory
Perth: Australia defeated Panama 3-2 in a highly entertaining contest to finish the four-game international window on a high.
Panama took the lead in the first half, before Michelle Heyman's second-half brace and Charli Grant's stoppage-time winner sealed the victory for Australia.
Australia started the game with high intensity. Remy Siemsen had an early chance after a well-directed corner taken by Emily van Egmond, but had it deflected away from her by a Panama defender.Amy Sayer had a similar kind of opportunity after a Van Egmond free kick, but her flicked header was wide of the goal.
Hayley Raso came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 24th minute. After a wonderful solo run, her shot hit the inside of the post. The clearance came back to her, and she was able to cut it back to Remy Siemsen – but Siemsen’s shot was parried away.
Despite Australia’s pressure, it was Panama who would score first. The ball came out to Ericka Arauz after an errant back pass. Her finish was perfect into the top corner and gave the visitors the lead.
The Matildas found the breakthrough in the second half. Holly McNamara found the run of Raso on the right. Raso’s low cross was pin-point for Michelle Heyman, who only had to tap home from close range.
With the scores level, the game became a highly transitional, open affair. Grant and Raso regularly found themselves haring up and down the pitch as it seemed the next goal was coming at any moment.
That proved to be the case. Once again, it was the combination of Raso and Heyman that got the job done.
This time, Raso put in a high cross to Heyman, whose header snuck into the back of the net to give Australia the lead.
Chloe Lincoln showed off why she is such a highly rated goalkeeper with a full-stretch save in the 71st minute to retain Australia’s lead.
Panama kept pushing for an equaliser. Jessika Nash performed heroics on the goal line to keep out a goal from Riley Tanner after another giveaway of possession.
In the next phase of play, however – while Nash was forced off the pitch with injury – Panama would score their second, through a howitzer from Lineth Cedeno.
It was Grant who ensured that Australia finished the international window on a high. In stoppage time, Galabadaarachchi played a clever ball through to Courtney Nevin, who had advanced to the byline.
Nevin’s cross found the run of her opposite wing-back Grant, who bundled the ball in for her second international goal to seal the win.
