Manchester City striker Mary Fowler scored the one purpose as Australia warmed up for the Women’s World Cup by beating fifth-ranked France 1-0 Friday in entrance of greater than 50,000 followers.
It ensured the event co-hosts head into its opening World Cup match in opposition to Ireland in Sydney subsequent week on a successful notice.
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Fowler’s scientific end within the 66th minute was all that separated the edges in a fast-paced pleasant watched by a sell-out, 50,629-strong crowd in Melbourne — the most important ever on residence soil for the Australian ladies’s workforce.
The defeat ended new France coach Herve Renard’s three-match win streak since giving up a profitable contract with the Saudi Arabia males’s workforce to take over when former boss Corinne Diacre was sacked in March.
And it left him with an harm fear after Lyon defender Selma Bacha was stretchered off within the dying minutes, clutching her left ankle.
“I went to see her, everyone was gathered around her. She rolled her ankle and we hope it’s not too serious. It’s the worst piece of news this evening,” Renard mentioned.
Both sides kicked off with near their finest XI and had early half-chances after a nervy begin, with Australia threatening on the counter-attack.
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But it took till the sixteenth minute for the primary shot heading in the right direction, Bacha’s stinging strike parried by goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
France began to click on in midfield and twice went shut, however the residence defence was stable and so they went to the break scoreless.
The impasse was lastly damaged when new Real Madrid recruit Hayley Raso accepted the ball on the correct and picked out substitute Fowler, who made no mistake.
“Always an important game, they’re a great team and I thought we put in a great performance tonight,” mentioned Australia skipper Sam Kerr. “But this is all about the journey, about building confidence for next week.”
Despite the loss, France managed possession for lengthy durations and ahead Eugenie Le Sommer mentioned it was a part of their studying curve.
“We are disappointed because we wanted to win, it was a tough game and Australia play very good,” she mentioned.
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“But we had good chances as well, unfortunately, we couldn’t finish. It was a great atmosphere and a great feeling to play in front of so many fans.”
As properly as Ireland, Australia face 11-time African champion Nigeria and reigning Olympic gold medallist Canada in World Cup Group B.
Les Bleues begin their marketing campaign in opposition to Jamaica on July 23 in Sydney and also will play Brazil and Panama in Group F.
