Matildas vs Chinese Taipei: Tash Prior, Sharn Freier and Bryleeh Henry score first international goals in 3-1 win at AAMI Park
Bryleeh Henry (second from right) came on in the second half to score the team's third goal. (AP: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Matildas have conceded against Chinese Taipei for the first time since 2007 but won their international friendly at AAMI Park 3-1 thanks to a trio of first-time goal-scorers.
Tash Prior and Sharn Freier scored early their first starts for the national side, before Chen Jin-wen capitalised on a mix-up between Tottenham teammates Clare Hunt and Charli Grant to slot and end a streak of seven straight clean sheets for Australia in this match-up.
The contest that had threatened to turn into a rout, tightened from that point, with the Matildas only able to relax somewhat after Bryleeh Henry came off the bench in the 73rd minute and scored the team's third goal five minutes later.
The Matildas were without the likes of Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy, who all returned to their club sides overseas. Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler and Cortnee Vine were also sidelined.
"It's a good opportunity for girls who haven't had as much game time," said Freier, playing just her eighth cap.
"We just have to grab every opportunity we can and put our best foot forward. I'm very privileged and grateful I got the opportunity for a few more minutes. It felt good."
Among the likes of Freier, Prior, Henry and debutant Leah Davidson, the multiple absences also allowed for the return of veteran Chloe Logarzo, who started her first international game since tearing her ACL over three years ago.
The 29-year-old set up Prior's first headed goal with a neat cross, but her night ended after just 25 minutes following a nasty head clash.
Look back at how the match unfolded in our live blog below.
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Live: Matildas vs Chinese Taipei at AAMI Park
That's all from us, folks
Thanks Marnie - the Matilda's future is looking good with a lot of rising talent to develop into world class players
- Mike
Thank you for joining us for tonight's live blog as the Matildas claimed a 3-1 victory against Chinese Taipei.
We'll be back on Saturday for the rematch in Geelong. Hope to see you there (back here).
'Quite relaxed out there': Gielnik
Emily Gielnik will leave AAMI Park both excited by the new talent getting game time and scoring for the Matildas and frustrated by some missed opportunities.
She told Channel 10 both her and Michelle Heyman want to be aerial presences and threats in the air, which didn't eventuate against Chinese Taipei.
"To be honest I was feeling quite relaxed out there, pretty stress-free and really good but once I made that mistake [missed goal], all wanted to do was get back on the ball and right that wrong," she said.
"I know we won tonight and I am so pleased for the girls and the girls came on and did an extraordinary job ... But I want to give more, so I'm frustrated tonight."
Gielnik added they had a short turnaround between the Brazil matches and these ones against Chinese Taipei in Victoria but they still wanted to play their best.
"We wanted to come out here today and not have any excuses, to not have anything to complain about," she said.
"Sometimes changes can be a really good thing and we just embrace it to be honest."
'Felt good': Freier enjoying the wing
Sharn Freier had a great night out, scoring her first goal for the Matildas.
She had license to roam, playing on a wing back role, in a position for plays in the A-League Women's for Roar.
"I think obviously getting my first official goal is very exciting, the girls came out very strong and created opportunities and lucky to be able to back one night," Freier told Channel 10.
"It is good I played it similar position at Roar, so it is not completely new to me, I think it is a bit of case of late but it is good to get on the ball. It is what I love to do so it is good."
Of all the new faces, she said it was a good opportunity to get game time into some of the less experienced players and for them to show what they can do.
"I am privileged and to quickly get the opportunity again, [it] felt good," she said.
That's the final whistle — Matildas win 3-1
Well not with the clean sheet they were hoping for, but the Matildas have successfully bounced back from their back-to-back defeats to Brazil with a 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei.
In front of a packed AAMI Park (although not soldout), Sharn Freier, Natasha Prior and Bryleeh Henry all debut goals for the Matildas.
AUS 3-1 TPE, full time.
Five minutes of added time
Plenty of time to do some more damage (or have damage done).
These are crucial minutes for the new faces on the pitch.
AUS 3-1 TPE, 90+ minutes
A-League Women's players finding the net
Nash back on the park
Tameka Yallop takes a well deserved rest on the sidelines as she's subbed off with Jessika Nash on in her place.
There's a lot of fresh faces on the pitch for the Matildas now.
AUS 3-1 TPE, 87 minutes.
Freier almost gets her second
Sharn Freier leapt up and headed the ball, which drifted just to the left, clipping the wrong side of the post.
Freier had her head in her hands as the crowd let out a loud exhale.
AUS 3-1 TPE, 85 minutes
That Henry goal
Here's the vision, thanks to Paramount+:
Another Matildas sub
Wini Heatley has come on, with Emily van Egmond off.
Clare Hunt has the captain's armband now for the final minutes of this match.
Leah Davidson has also come on in another Matildas debut.
AUS 3-1 TPE, 80 minutes
78' GOAL: Henry
What a goal! Tameka Yallop had a long cross to Bryleeh Henry, who scored as she slipped, guilding the ball through to the back post.
It's her first international goal. That's three debutant goals tonight for Australia.
AUS 3-1 TPE, 78 minutes
Arnold with another save
Mackenzie Arnold has made another save for the Matildas, as Chinese Taipei try and find an equaliser.
However, not helping their case is Chen Jin-Wen, who scored the first half goal for Chinese Taipei, has been stretched off the ground.
We now also have the official crowd number at 26,795, just a few thousand below a capacity crowd.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 75 minutes
Double sub for the Matildas
Remy Siemsen and Bryleeh Henry have come on to the pitch, with Emily Gielnik and Michelle Heyman off to make way.
It came right after Chinese Taipei's Su Yu-Hsuan slipped under a challenge and looked to be in a fair amount of discomfort. She was assessed by medical staff.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 73 minutes
Chinese Taipei defending well
The Matildas are again struggling to break down the difficult Chinese Taipei defence.
Alex Chidiac had the ball at her feet near the box but was cleverly bodied out of the way, with the ball going out of bounds.
Every time Chidiac makes a run or has a good moment with the ball, the crowd goes up a notch. They love her here.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 67 minutes
Play back on
Thankfully for the Matildas, Mackeznie Arnold has her gloves back on and play has resumed.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 63 minutes
Arnold being assessed
The Matildas are catching their breath with play briefly stopped after Mackenzie Arnold has called over the medical team.
It appears to be her right calf causing her some issue.
Gielnik almost gets her goal
The crowd started to roar in anticipation as Emily Gielnik took the ball and raced towards the goal, but her heavy touch got away from her.
That was a huge opportunity to seize.
It was a great moment to score after the Matildas have been having some trouble trying to break through Chinese Taipei's defence.
The ball has been pinging between players while they search for a way through. That would have been a huge confidence booster.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 57 minutes
Arnold saves
Chen Jin-Wen was looking for her second goal against Australia but Mackenzie Arnold made the save, grabbing the ball on her chest.
Down the other end, Emily Gielnik is directing players and appears hungry to get on the scoresheet herself.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 51 minutes
'Up to this Matildas side'
The second half has started like the first, with the Matildas in possession in their attacking half.
So far, they have had 13 shots, 6 on target.
Former player and commentator Grace Gill said they have been great at opening up chances, but are missing the final touch.
"It's now up to this Matildas side on how they capitalise on those and make the most of their opportunities," Gill said on 10.
AUS 2-1 TPE, 49 minutes