A 91st-minute strike from Mirjam Kastelec has earned Slovenia a 1-1 draw with the Matildas in Perth, denying Joe Montemurro two wins from two video games as Australian coach and spoiling an improved efficiency from the hosts.
After a scoreless opening half at HBF Park on Sunday night, the Matildas secured a deserved breakthrough 5 minutes after the break when Remy Seimsen set Ellie Carpenter as much as float a cutback to Michelle Heyman, who positioned a side-footed volley into the web.
However a late flurry from the Slovenians was rewarded a minute into added time when an effort from Naja Poje Mihelic bounced off the put up and again into the trail of fellow substitute Kastelec, who slid in entrance of a desperately retreating Australian defence to fireplace dwelling.
It dampened a efficiency from the Australians that confirmed indicators of enchancment as they proceed to adapt to the brand new possession-based ideas of Montemurro – even when the margin was nicely off the 3-0 victory they secured over the identical opposition on Thursday night.
After a midweek win characterised by struggles with the Slovenian press and sloppy turnovers, the hosts have been cleaner with the ball of their defensive third within the re-match, which resulted in fewer alternatives off giveaways for the Europeans.
This was accompanied by enhancements within the facet’s motion and mixture play going ahead, notably from Carpenter and Amy Sayer on the fitting.
The promising build-ups, nevertheless, have been regularly let down by the ultimate ball or stymied by determined last-gasp defending.
That was till the fiftieth minute, when Seimsen’s inch-perfect ball for Carpenter set the wingback as much as put it on a plate for Heyman.
Charli Grant got here near killing the sport off within the seventieth minute however had her shot cleared off the road, earlier than the guests raised their depth.
Having hardly been sighted to that time, Mackenzie Arnold was known as into motion within the ninetieth minute to make a fast response to disclaim Kastelec, however the Australian keeper may do little in regards to the 22-year-old’s effort a minute later.
In search of to bounce again, Montemurro will now shuffle his deck for fixtures towards Panama on 5 July and eight July, with Carpenter, Cooney-Cross and Kennedy amongst eight gamers leaving camp, with eight new gamers set to jet into West Australia.