Matildas Fall Behind Early as England Take Control in Derby Friendly
The Matildas faced the European champions England in what was expected to be a spirited friendly at Pride Park, Derby — and from the very first whistle, it was clear that both teams came to make a statement. The match carried a bit of emotional weight too, being the first meeting between the two sides since England knocked Australia out of the 2023 World Cup semifinals.
England started brightly, showing much more energy and attacking intent than in their previous outing against Brazil. The Lionesses quickly settled into rhythm, with their young attacking trio of Aggie Beever-Jones, Ella Toone, and Taylor Hinds causing serious problems for the Matildas’ right side. Within the opening minutes, England looked sharper, faster, and more composed, while the Australian backline found itself under pressure almost constantly.
Aggie Beever-Jones was at the heart of everything. The Chelsea forward had a couple of early chances — one sliding effort went just wide, and another header narrowly missed the mark. Then, in the 13th minute, she actually had the ball in the back of the net after finishing off a great through pass from Beth Mead. Unfortunately for England, the flag was up for offside, cutting short what would’ve been a confident early celebration.
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Australia, on the other hand, struggled to find their footing. Their captain and star striker Sam Kerr barely saw the ball in the opening stages, as England dominated possession with over 75% control of the game. Most of the Matildas' players were pinned back, leaving Kerr isolated up front and forced to chase long, hopeful passes.
Then came the turning point — in the 19th minute, Australian defender Alanna Kennedy attempted a risky Cruyff turn deep in her own half. England’s Alessia Russo pounced, stealing possession and racing toward goal. In a desperate attempt to recover, Kennedy pulled Russo down, leaving the referee with no choice but to issue a straight red card. That moment completely shifted the dynamic of the match.
Just a minute later, England capitalized. Beever-Jones found the breakthrough in the 20th minute, turning home a cross from Lucy Bronze to give the Lionesses a 1-0 lead. It was a well-deserved goal, one that summed up England’s control and composure throughout the first half.
For the Matildas, it was a rough start — down a goal and a player inside 20 minutes. Still, the game served as another valuable test for them as they continue to build ahead of upcoming international fixtures. England, meanwhile, showed why they remain one of the world’s top teams — confident in possession, clinical in attack, and relentless in pressure.
As the action continued under the Derby lights, one thing was certain: this friendly might not have had tournament stakes, but it definitely carried the fire of a fierce football rivalry renewed.
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