A much improved Matildas side has defeated China 2-0 in Sydney in their farewell match before the Paris Olympics.
76,798 people watched on as two quick fire second half goals from Clare Wheeler and Hayley Raso earned Tony Gustavsson's chargers a deserved win over a determined China side.
After a poor performance in Friday's match in Adelaide, Gustavsson restored many starters to the lineup, including Raso, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley, whilst veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams was given the armband as she started in what was her final ever Matildas game in Australia.
After a lacklusture attacking game on Friday, the Matildas showed more energy and purpose going forward to begin, with Tameka Yallop going close just after 10 minutes, with Raso having two good chances of her own.
Michelle Heyman almost scored from a wonderful solo run after a mistake from Li Mengwen, but she fired an effort under pressure just wide of the upright.
Despite the improvement, Australia knew China were a danger on the counter-attack, making the first goal crucial in this game; and for a manager often criticised for his substitutions, Gustavsson got them bang on in the second half.
The half was only a few minutes old when Catley floated in a dangerous looking free-kick, and the diminutive Wheeler ghosted in at the back post and headed home with authority to give the Matildas the lead and send the crowd wild.
The other half time substitute Cortnee Vine soon played her role in the 56th minute when her inch perfect ball fell perfectly into the path of Raso, who held off a defender and rounded Huan to score into an empty net. It was just rewards for what was a top performance from the Real Madrid winger.
China tried to hit back through Zhang Linyang, but her effort was saved by Mackenzie Arnold, who came on in the 41st minute so Williams could receive a fitting send off from the fans and players.
Raso almost had a second when she got onto the end of a loose ball and fired it at the near post, but Huan managed to keep it out, albeit with some difficulty.
The result means Australia remain unbeaten in 2024 having won four of their five games, and gives them a springboard as they continue their preparation for the Paris Olympics starting in July.
The Sporting News followed Australia vs China live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.
MORE: MATILDAS DRAW AND SCHEDULE FOR PARIS OLYMPICS
Australia vs China live score
| Score | Goalscorers | |
| Australia | 2 | Wheeler 47', Raso 56' |
| China | 0 |
Australia vs China live updates, highlights, and commentary
FULL TIME: All over in Sydney, and the Matildas earn a richly deserved 2-0 victory over China! It was a much improved performance compared to the first game, with the Matildas looking more assured in attack and solid in defence, though they didn't have a goal to show for it in the first half. But two goals in eight second half minutes from substitute Clare Wheeler and Hayley Raso secured an important win for Australia in their final hit out before the Olympics!
90th minute:Four minutes of added time at the end of this one.
87th minute:Two more changes for Australia, as Grant and Polkinghorne are on for Carpenter and Kennedy.
82nd minute: Wang Shuan and Yang Lina are off for China and are replaced by Yuan Cong and Zhang Rui.
78th minute:Li Mengwen twists and turns her way into a shooting opportunity, but Arnold collects it easily.
76th minute:A new record crowd for Australian women's football! 76,798 people in attendance tonight, just eclipsing the records we saw at the World Cup last year!
68th minute:More changes for China, Linyan and Yanqiu make way for Yanwen and Menglu.
66th minute:Raso almost at the double! Vine breaks into the box and is tackled, with the loose ball falling to Raso, and her strong shot is just about saved by Huan.
65th minute:Arnold is called into action for the first time after a strong shot from range by Linyan, she is able to dive to her left to save it. In the meantime, Torpey is on for Yallop.
57th minute:China were preparing changes before the goal, and they happen now as Jiali and Chen are on for Chengshu and Mengyen. Meanwhile Tameka Yallop goes close again, but her efforts flies just wide of the post.
56th minute: GOOOOAAALLLL!!!!! TWO FOR AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!! Vine puts an inch perfect pass into the path of Raso, who holds off a defender and rounds the keeper and finishes into an empty net. She's been the Matildas most dangerous player tonight, and she gets a deserved goal!
HAYLEY RASO DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR THE MATILDAS!!@TheMatildas are heading to Paris in style, as Raso found another gear and went around China PR's keeper!#AUSvCHN - Live & free on @Channel10AU!
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) June 3, 2024
💻📱📺: https://t.co/M14OJmndRV
📱💻: https://t.co/d2z8qlUYgt #TilItsDone #Matildas pic.twitter.com/op1AT69cyN
48th minute: GOOOOAAALLLL!!!!!! INSTANT IMPACT FROM WHEELER! A FREE-KICK IS BRILLIANTLY FLOATED INTO THE BOX BY CATLEY, AND WHEELER MEETS IT AT THE BACK POST AND IT BOUNCES INTO THE GOAL PAST HUAN! A HUGE ROAR GOES UP AS THE MATILDAS EARN A DESERVED LEAD!
CLARE WHEELER WITH THE HEADER!!
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) June 3, 2024
The smallest player on the pitch has just stood the tallest, and given @TheMatildas the lead!!
Watch #AUSvCHN live & free on @Channel10AU now!
💻📱📺: https://t.co/M14OJmndRV
📱💻: https://t.co/d2z8qlUYgt #Matildas #TilItsDone pic.twitter.com/hKXbo7BPc8
46th minute:Back underway in Sydney and some changes for the Matildas, as Vine and Wheeler are on for Heyman and van Egmond.
HALF TIME: More energy, more chances and more cohesion from the Matildas, but no goals at half-time as the score is still 0-0 in Sydney. Yallop, Heyman and Raso all had good chances to score, but either missed the target or forced Huan to make smart saves. China are still relatively sound in defence, but are posing less of a threat on the counter-attack.
45th minute:Two minutes of added time at the end of the half.
43rd minute:A very special substitution takes place, as Lydia Williams receives a standing ovation from the 76,000 people inside Accor Stadium, as she leaves the field for the last time in Australia. A huge cheer as she gives Catley the armband and is replaced by Mackenzie Arnold.
40th minute:Heyman almost scores a spectacular goal! Li Mengwen gives the ball away cheaply to Heyman, who proceeds to get all the way to the edge of the box under extreme pressure from China's defenders, but her shot flashes just wide of the goal.
37th minute:Bar a few fizzing crosses from Australia, the game has slowed slightly as China dig in and Australia try to pick their way through.
26th minute:van Egmond stops a breakaway with a deliberate foul and is booked by the referee.
24th minute:Ellie Carpenter appears to be inverting from right back to act as an extra midfielder, and this seems to be helping disrupt China's solidity we saw a few days ago, as Australia have had a lot of joy down the right side to begin this one as they overload that part of the pitch.
20th minute:Raso again at the centre of the action after Heyman's dummy gives Raso a free shot at goal, but Huan is able to catch the effort. A completely different Matildas side here than on Friday night.
16th minute:More good work from Heyman allows Raso to cut inside and shoot from close range, but Huan is solid and makes the stop.
15th minute:Australia piling on the pressure with a series of corners and a chance for Heyman, but Dou Jianxing stands tall and is able to block the effort.
13th minute:Down the other end China have a chance as the ball falls to Shen Mengyu on the edge of the box, but her effort is wild and well over the bar. A small reminder to the Matildas of China's counter-attacking capabilities.
11th minute:Should be 1-0 to Australia! Carpenter drives deep into the heart of China's defence, she squares the ball across to the centre of the goal; Heyman misses with her swing of the boot, and Yallop skies an effort she should have kept on target. Much better from Australia to begin this one!
6th minute:The Matildas looking more assured in the opening exchanges in Sydney, with Raso having an early shot on the drive blocked by the China defence. They will want to convert this into clear cut chances before China can grow into the game.
KICK OFF: We're underway in Sydney! The Matildas will look to get off to a strong start here...
One minute before kickoff:Anthems done, all that's left is for the game to begin!
Four minutes before kickoff:Williams gets an amazing welcome to the field, and there is currently a small ceremony commemorating her service to Australian football. Having played at five World Cups, it's the least she deserves...
Seven minutes before kickoff:The teams are in the tunnel, and it appears the Matildas will make a guard of honour for Williams as she enters the pitch.
25 minutes before kickoff:In honour of long-serving goalkeeper Lydia Williams - who is playing her last game tonight - the Matildas all wore special jerseys with her name and number during the warm up.
Thank you, Lyds! 💜#Matildas #TilitsDone #ThanksLyds @lydsaussie pic.twitter.com/x7QqDpga9O
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024
1hr before kickoff:Tonight is set to see the largest crowd in Australian history watching a women's football match, check out this article here to see which attendances have been the biggest in previous years (hint, afewof them are from last year's Women's World Cup!)
1hr before kickoff:China's starting side is also in, with Wurigumula dropping to the bench to be replaced by Wu Chengshu. Zhang Linyan, last week's goalscorer, also starts.
- China confirmed lineup:Huan (GK) — Mengwen, Qiaozhu, Jianxing, Haiyan, Shuang, Mengyu, Lina, Chengshu, Linyan, Yanqiu
1hr 10 minutes before kickoff:The Matildas side is in! Lydia Williams starts in goal in her final ever match, and some big hitters return, with Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Kyra Cooney-Cross all back in the starting side.
- Australia confirmed lineup: Williams (GK) — Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley — Raso, Cooney-Cross, Yallop, Fowler— van Egmond, Heyman.
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 3, 2024STARTING XI 🗒
Here's how we line up for our game against China PR at Accor Stadium.👊
🫡@lydsaussie leads us out tonight in her final game on home soil
⏰: 7:40pm AEST
📺💻📱: @10FootballAU#Matildas #TilitsDone pic.twitter.com/RhFMqK3NKQ
2 hours before kickoff:Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' coverage of what is set to be a record-breaking night in Australian football. The second friendly match between Australia and China will take place at Accor Stadium in Sydney in front of the largest ever crowd for a women's football match in Australia, with the 83,000 seat stadium sold out for the Matildas last game before the Olympics. The pressure is ramping up on Tony Gustavsson and his side, as they were very fortunate to emerge with a draw from Friday's clash in Adelaide thanks to Michelle Heyman's stoppage time equaliser, and fans will be expecting a much more fluid attacking performance from the clunky one on show a few days ago. It should be an intriguing match up, and we will have all the coverage right here!
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 2, 2024Our final game on home soil before #Paris2024 👊
⚽: #AUSvCHN
⏰: 7:40pm AEST
🏟: @AccorStadium
📺💻📱: LIVE on 10, 10 Bold (WA Only) @10FootballAU, @ParamountPlusAU & 10 play#Matildas #TilitsDone pic.twitter.com/LbXTGTYrUj
Australia vs Chinakick off time
The game is kicking off at 7:40 p.m. AEST in Sydney.
This corresponds to 7:10 p.m. ACST in Adelaide and Darwin, and 5:40 p.m. AWST in Perth.
| Kickoff time | |
| Sydney | 7:40 p.m. AEST |
| Melbourne | 7:40 p.m. AEST |
| Brisbane | 7:40 p.m. AEST |
| Adelaide | 7:10 p.m. ACST |
| Perth | 5:40 p.m. AWST |
Australia vs China lineups, team news
Australia were dealt a further blow on Friday when star attackerCaitlin Foordwent off injured just 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute, and whilst the hamstring injury isn't a major one, Gustavsson confirmed in a press conference yesterday the Arsenal striker would not be playing in Sydney.
In the same press conference, Gustavsson hinted he would play 'close to his strongest lineup' in Sydney after opting to relegate Foord,Steph Catley,Kyra Cooney-CrossandMary Fowlerto the bench, bringing the quartet on during the second half.
In her final ever game for Australia before retirement, goalkeeperLydia Williamsmay also be given a start ahead ofMackenzie Arnold.
Australia confirmed lineup: Williams (GK) — Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley — Raso, Cooney-Cross, Yallop, Fowler— van Egmond, Heyman.
China will most likely stick to a similar lineup to the one that performed so well on Friday.
Zhang Linyan and Wurigumula caused Australia's defence a lot of problems with their pace and combination play, and Milicic will hope they can do the same at Accor Stadium.
China confirmed lineup:Huan (GK) — Mengwen, Qiaozhu, Jianxing, Haiyan, Shuang, Mengyu, Lina, Chengshu, Linyan, Yanqiu
Australia vs China live stream, TV channel
The game will be broadcast on Channel 10's main channel, with pre-game coverage starting at 7 p.m.
The game will also be available on 10Play and Paramount Plus for those who wish to stream the action.
