Matildas vs. Spain score, result, highlights as Australia win goal-filled Cup of Nations clash

Joshua Mayne

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Matildas vs. Spain score, result, highlights as Australia win goal-filled Cup of Nations clash image

The Matildas have emerged as 3-2 winners following their Cup of Nations clash with Spain.

Australia will be buoyed by their performance - particularly their first-half showing - as they aim to build confidence with the World Cup nearing.

Cortnee Vine opened the scoring for the home side with a stunning curling strike, before Claire Polkinghorne and Caitlin Foord added to the Matildas' first-half onslaught.

Spain continued to push for a reply in the second stanza, and it was Carmona GarcÍa who finally got the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Redondo Ferrer also chimed in with a goal in stoppage time, but it was too late for La Roja.

MORE: Cup of Nations 2023: Teams, schedule, results

Matildas vs. Spain final score

  1H 2H Final
Australia 3 0 3
Spain 0 2 2

Goals:
11th min — AUS — Cortnee Vine
16th min — AUS — Clare Polkinghorne
42nd min — AUS — Caitlin Foord
73rd min — ESP — Carmona GarcÍa
94th min — ESP — Redondo Ferrer

Matildas vs. Spain as it happened: Highlights and commentary from Cup of Nations game

FULLTIME: The Matildas get the win! Their stunning first-half performance proves to be enough to secure the victory against a Spanish side that never gave up.

94th min: GOAL, SPAIN! Ferrer finally gets her goal! It's an impressive one too, pinging the ball with her first touch. One minute for the visitors to find an equaliser...

90th min: Five minutes added on.

89th min: Arnold is right back into the action, confidently collecting a Spanish cross into the box. Safe hands.

85th min: Australia's goalkeeper Arnold is down after taking a heavy hit in the box during a contest, but after some treatment is back up and playing.

78th min: Chance, Spain! Paralluelo Ayingono dances past defenders and creates some space, but sends her shot wide at the end of it.

73rd min: GOAL, SPAIN! Carmona GarcÍa fires from just outside the box, and her shot flies past several players. Time for an unlikely comeback?

72nd min: A double change for the Matildas - Cortnee Vine and Kyra Cooney-Cross are off, replaced by Emily van Egmond and Courtney Nevin.

71st min: The attendance at CommBank Stadium has been announced as 17,333.

70th min: Australia are defending deep in their own half now as Spain begin to dominate possession. No recent clear-cut chances, though.

65th min: A few tired legs out there - on both teams. Passes are coming up short and neither side are able to gain control of the midfield.

62nd min: Chance, Spain! Ferrer fires from point-blank range but Arnold gets a leg out to make an impressive stop. The clean sheet is still intact.

58th min: Australian winger Raso is substituted and will enjoy a well-deserved rest. Larissa Crummer is her replacement.

56th min: Kerr spearheads a counter-attack, but Foord is brought down as she makes a support run. No whistle from the referee and the home crowd doesn't approve.

54th min: Spain are beginning to apply some pressure... A few goalmouth fracases but Australia emerge unscathed. 

47th min: Chance, Spain! Hermoso Fuentes has space in front of her and just the goalkeeper to beat but fires straight at Arnold. A comfortable but composed save for the Australian shot-stopper.

46th min: The Matildas begin the second half just like they ended the first. Crafty passes in the midfield, with Foord and Kerr already benefiting from a number of through balls.

SECOND HALF: We're underway again! No changes for the Matildas. Spain make two changes though - Carro Nolasco and Hernández Zurbano Oihane come off for Benitez Iannuzzi and Garcia Gomez.

HALFTIME: A stunning half of football for the Matildas. Their 3-0 lead is thoroughly deserved, with every player delivering in their role. Now the question is whether Gustavsson decides to rotate heavily for the second half.

45th min: Three minutes of additional time.

Raso also went down at the halfway line with what appeared to be a wrist injury. She is back on the field, though.

42nd min: GOAL, MATILDAS! It's three! Caitlin Foord adds her name to the scoresheet, getting herself open in the box to head home Steph Catley's free-kick. The Aussies are flying.

40th min: Nearly a chance for Spain - their first solid opportunity for about 15 minutes. Hermoso Fuentes executes a stunning nutmeg, but her cross is headed away.

37th min: Ball is in the back of the net for Australia! But the assistant's flag is up for offside... Kerr outmuscles the Spanish defenders in the box and gets her head on a cross and can't believe her eyes when she sees the offside flag. The replay shows the decision was a tight one.

35th min: Vine continues to look electric. Nearly nabs the ball on the edge of the penalty area but narrowly loses out in a sprint race.

32nd min: Some strong challenges flying in from the Spanish team now. No yellow cards yet, but the referee has spoken to the visitors about their discipline.

30th min: Time for both teams to take a drinks break. It's about 28c in Parramatta with high humidity, so officials have made the decision to hold two drinks breaks - one in each half. 

26th min: The match has calmed down a bit now, as Spain begin to get their rhythm going again. Australia's defence is holding firm, though.

20th min: That second goal has absolutely taken the wind out of Spain's sails. Australia are winning the 50/50 balls and continue to look threatening in their opponent's half.

16th min: GOAL, MATILDAS! Just five minutes later and Australia have scored again! Clare Polkinghorne latches onto the ball and fires home from a tight angle. Spain's defenders switched off and Polkinghorne simply wanted it more. It's the Matildas veteran's second goal in two games.

11th min: GOAL, MATILDAS! Vine scores an absolute stunner! Raso creates space on the right wing before passing across to the 24-year-old. She takes one touch before curling it into the top right-hand corner. The crowd erupts, understandably.

8th min: A high-energy end-to-end clash here. Katrina Gorry has played a couple of delicious long balls to Vine on the wing, leaving Spain exposed. La Roja, on the other hand, have been able to fizz a number of through-balls past Australia's centre-backs. This match looks like it could be a goalfest.

6th min: Chance, Spain! Redondo Ferrer has her shot right in front of goal blocked by Mackenzie Arnold. But it's called for offside, anyway.

2nd min: Chance, Australia! Plenty of action within the opening 120 seconds. Cortnee Vine finds herself in open space on the left wing but her shot is blocked.

1st min: Spain immediately on the attack here. They cross dangerously into Australia's box but it is calmly cleared away by Katrina Gorry.

KICKOFF: We're underway at CommBank Stadium! A solid crowd in attendance for this friendly match.

5 mins until kickoff: The teams are out... Time for the Welcome to Country and the Australian and Spanish national anthems.

15 mins until kickoff: Hayley Raso scored an impressive brace to kick-start the Matildas' second-half onslaught in their last match. She makes the starting XI for this match again, so keep an eye on her - particularly her link-up with Kerr. 

30 mins until kickoff: It wasn't a pretty result for Australia the last time they faced off against Spain... La Roja out-muscled the Matildas in a friendly last year, emerging 7-0 victors. It should be much closer this time around, though.

45 mins until kickoff: After a frustrating first half against Czechia on Thursday, the Matildas eventually found their groove, scoring four goals in the second period. According to coach Tony Gustavsson, it was Sam Kerr's team talk that inspired the turnaround. Her leadership will be key again tonight.

60 mins until kickoff: Team sheets are in! Caitlin Foord is the headline change for Australia, coming in for Mary Fowler. As for the away side, Codina Panedas has been brought into the midfield in place of Oroz Areta.

Full starting XIs can be seen below.

90 mins until kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live blog for this Cup of Nations match between Australia and Spain.

The Matildas will be looking to avenge their previous 7-0 friendly loss to La Roja and will have the home crowd behind them tonight.

Both sides are coming off wins from the first match day, so we should be in for a high-quality affair at CommBank Stadium.

Matildas vs. Spain lineups

Tony Gustavsson has brought in Clare Hunt to the starting XI after her impressive debut performance against Czechia. Caitlin Foord also returns up front, replacing young-gun Mary Fowler.

Australia confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): Mackenzie Arnold (GK) — Charlotte Grant, Clare Polkinghorne, Clare Hunt, Steph Catley — Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross — Caitlin Foord, Cortnee Vine, Hayley Raso — Sam Kerr (c)

Australia subs: Lydia Williams (GK), Courtney Nevin, Aivi Luik, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily Van Egmond, Mary Fowler, Tameka Yallop, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Gielnik, Larissa Crummer, Clare Wheeler, Alex Chidiac, Amy Sayer

For Spain, Rodríguez Rivero María Isabel will start between the sticks, whilst Codina Panedas gets the nod in midfield amongst a host of changes.

Spain confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Rodríguez Rivero María Isabel (GK) — Hernández Zurbano Oihane, Gálvez Luna Rocío, Andrés Sanz, Carmona GarcÍa — Guerrero SanmartÍn, Codina Panedas, Carro Nolasco — Gonzalez Rodriguez, Hermoso Fuentes,  Redondo Ferrer

Spain subs: Salon Marcuello (GK), Lete Para (GK), Abelleira Dueñas Teresa, Oroz Areta, Pujadas Boix, Méndez Fernández, Navarro Garcia, Benitez Iannuzzi, Paralluelo Ayingono, Cardona de Miguel, Tomás Serer, Zornoza Sanchez, Del Castillo Beivide, Garcia Gomez

MORE: Which teams have qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup?

How to watch Matildas vs. Spain

Date (AEDT) Time (AEDT) TV Streaming
Sunday,
February 19		 6:00 p.m. 10 Bold 10 Play, Paramount+

This Cup of Nations clash will be televised in Australia on free-to-air via 10 Bold with the match also available via streaming services 10 Play and Paramount+.

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne Photo

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and journalist at Ministry of Sport. While Joshua’s main passions are football, rugby league, basketball and F1, he will watch any sport that's on. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again.