Matildas reap Olympic revenge by downing Germany in 'historic win'
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Australia has reaped some Olympic revenge by downing world No.4 Germany 2-1 in a friendly on Tuesday morning.
The Matildas were down 1-0 after just five minutes at Schauinsland-Reisen Arena in Duisburg and looked to be heading for a similar result to the 3-0 loss against Germany at Paris 2024.
But Kyra Cooney-Cross levelled things with a long-range stunner before half time, and then Clare Hunt put Australia in front with a header from a corner in the 79th minute.
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Cooney-Cross and Hunt had never scored a goal for Australia previously. Cooney-Cross was celebrating her 50th game.
It means the Matildas are undefeated under interim coach Tom Sermanni, after drawing with Switzerland 1-1 days earlier.
Clare Hunt of Australia celebrates scoring her team's second goal with teammates. Getty Images for Football Austra
Tony Gustavsson was axed as the team's coach following a dismal Olympic showing and Football Australia is yet to find a permanent replacement.
The Matildas had not beaten Germany since 2005 and have now only done so twice.
Ironically the only other time they beat Germany was when Sermanni was coaching in 2005.
"It's a historic win," Grace Gill said in commentary.
"It's been a long almost 20-year wait... but the Matildas have defeated Germany, and what a moment it is for this team.
"Tom Sermanni, welcome back."
Sermanni was rapt with the performance and said it will restore confidence following the Olympic disaster.
"Huge, I think it restores confidence again," he said.
"I'm absolutely delighted by the effort of the players, the discipline of the players, the work rate, and the attitude for 90 minutes.
"I thought the team did an absolutely fantastic job tonight.
"I thought in the first game against Switzerland we were a little bit passive, but I looked at this game tonight and that sort of started the foundation on what we want to build from, and what the Matildas are.
"That's the ability to compete for 90 minutes, mixed in with some real quality attacking football.
"Hopefully this gives us the impetus and confidence to go forward from here and really start to... this is the start of our preparation for the Asian Cup so hopefully this is a great foundation to start from."
Winonah Heatley and Sharn Freier of Australia celebrate following the team's victory over Germany. Getty Images for Football Austra
Kaitlyn Torpey suffered a hamstring injury during the win.
Sermanni denied there were injury issues with veteran players Michelle Heyman and Katrina Gorry who were subbed off during the game.
The Matildas somehow won the game despite some astonishing statistics.
They had just 27 per cent possession and created six shots on goal, whereas Germany had 20 shots, of which six hit the target.
Germany's passing accuracy was better, too, making the Aussie victory all the more incredible.
"They stuck in the game under the pressure," Gill said.
The Matildas next face Brazil in Brisbane on November 28.
Sermanni is unsure if he will still be acting as interim coach for the team's next games.
