Match Report
The CommBank Matildas have been defeated 4-2 by World No.3 Germany in front of a 26,352-strong crowd in Karlsruhe.
Sam Kerr and Holly McNamara were on the scoresheet, but were not able to prevent defeat by a German side who remain undefeated in 2026.
Tori Tumeth became CommBank Matilda #244 late in the second half.
Head Coach Joe Montemurro made two changes to the side that took on Mexico at home back in June. Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler, unavailable for this window, were replaced by Emily van Egmond and Amy Sayer in midfield.
The high press of Germany was always going to be a challenge, and so it proved. The home side made life incredibly difficult for Australia on the ball and they were able to capitalise on turnovers in promising areas as a result.
They struck first as a result of that pressure. Carlotta Wamser put in a ball towards the back post. Franziska Kett was there to head it across the face of goal, and Melissa Kössler capitalised, tapping it in for her first international goal.
Kössler had her second in the 30th minute. Clever movement meant that she found space in behind the defence. Her shot from distance beat Mackenzie Arnold and doubled Germany’s lead.
When Sam Kerr is on the field, however, Australia is never far away from goals. In first-half stoppage time, Ellie Carpenter made a storming run down the right-hand flank. Her cross found the head of Kerr at the front post whose well-directed, powerful header rippled the back of the net.
The goal meant that it was 2-1 at half-time and suddenly, the CommBank Matildas were right back in the game.
The second half was a much more even affair, with the game beginning to open up more as time passed.
