European Champions England defeat CommBank Matildas 3-0

The CommBank Matildas have been defeated 3-0 by England in the final game of the October international window.

Aggie Beever-Jones and Lucy Bronze scored first-half goals after an early red card to Alanna Kennedy saw Australia play the majority of the game with ten players.

Georgia Stanway sealed the result deep in stoppage time, converting a penalty with almost the last kick of the game.

Head Coach Joe Montemurro made five changes to the side that defeated Wales earlier in the week. Mackenzie Arnold came back into goals, Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter returned at full-back, Alanna Kennedy started in midfield, and Amy Sayer was employed in the attacking third.

Sam Kerr took the captain’s armband for the first time since returning from injury.

England started on the front foot in front of their home fans. Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones was a constant threat in and around the penalty area.

She almost found a way through early in the match, but wasn’t able to direct her shot from the back post on target. She did put the ball in the back of the net in the 13th minute – but was denied by the offside flag.

It didn’t take her long to score one that counted. Alanna Kennedy was shown a red card by the referee in the 19th minute, judged to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The resulting free kick clattered against the Australian wall, but Beever-Jones struck the rebound well and saw the ball whistle into the back of the net.

England scored their second as the first half wound to a close. A nice passing move found Lucy Bronze in the penalty area. The veteran made no mistake from close range to score her 21st international goal.

There was a renewed energy from the Australians after half-time as they looked to get themselves back into the game. In promising signs, Sam Kerr was heavily involved as the CommBank Matildas hoped to strike in transition.

Montemurro made his first changes in the 70th minute. Clare Wheeler, Charlotte Grant and Hayley Raso were introduced in place of Kerr, Catley and Sayer. It was the most minutes that Kerr has played in competitive football since her injury return.

There was a lengthy delay after a knee injury to England teenage striker Michelle Agyemang, who was forced to withdraw from the field. The additional withdrawal of Beever-Jones – after England had used all of their substitutions - saw the final ten minutes of the contest become a ten v ten affair.

Remy Siemsen and Jamilla Rankin saw some minutes at the end of the game, replacing Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross during stoppage time.

England had one more opportunity to add to the scoresheet. With almost the last play of the game, the home side won a penalty after a video review deemed that Katrina Gorry brought down Missy Bo Kearns in the box. Georgia Stanway scored from the spot and made it three for England.

The CommBank Matildas will take plenty of lessons from the game as they continue preparations ahead of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™. 

Match Summary

Australia: 0
England: 3 (Aggie Beever-Jones 20’, Lucy Bronze 40’, Georgia Stanway 90+8')

Australia: 1. Mackenzie Arnold (GK), 3. Winonah Heatley, 4. Clare Hunt, 7. Steph Catley (22. Charlotte Grant 70’), 9. Caitlin Foord (26. Remy Siemsen 90+2'), 14. Alanna Kennedy, 17. Amy Sayer (16. Hayley Raso 70’), 19. Katrina Gorry, 20. Sam Kerr (6. Clare Wheeler 69’), 21. Ellie Carpenter, 23. Kyra Cooney-Cross (27. Jamilla Rankin 90+2')

Unused substitutes: 12. Teagan Micah (GK), 18. Morgan Aquino (GK), 2. Courtney Nevin, 5. Cortnee Vine, 8. Kaitlyn Torpey, 25. Holly McNamara, 32. Michelle Heyman

Yellow cards: Caitlin Foord 90+2'
Red cards: Alanna Kennedy 19’

England: 1. Hannah Hampton (GK), 2. Lucy Bronze (12. Niamh Charles 45’), 3. Taylor Hinds (15. Alex Greenwood 62’), 4. Kiera Walsh (14. Georgia Stanway 62’), 5. Maya Le Tissier, 6. Esme Morgan, 7. Beth Mead, 8. Lucia Kendall, 9. Alessia Russo (19. Michelle Agyemang 62’, 17. Chloe Kelly 80’), 10. Ella Toone (18. Missy Bo Kearns 62’), 11. Aggie Beever-Jones

Unused substitutes: 13. Khiara Keating (GK), 21. Anna Moorhouse (GK), 16. Jess Carter, 20. Laura Blindkilde Brown, 22. Grace Fisk, 23. Jess Naz