Matildas lost 2-3 to Nigeria after being 1-0 up
. The focus from the commentators was on all the injuries to our first 11 forwards. But we lost the games in the back half. All 3 goals conceded due to poor defensive lapses. The last one was U9s stuff
. The first one just before half-time changed the momentum of the game. Why when we're 1-0 up with a minute or two to go before the break would our defensive mids press up hard too offensively leaving us exposed behind them. The dumbest thing was we got barely away with it once and then we did the same stupid thing straight away and coughed up the goal
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The Matildas are now third and will struggle to get out of the group needing to beat Canada without our primary forwards available. In any case, if we play like we have so far in the first two games, we won't get through anyway. The first half bar the last two minutes was fairly good, but the second half was listless, sloppy and dysfunctional. Most of the team was often standing on the spot, flat-footed and reactive. Only in the last 10 minutes with us 1-3 down did we show any urgency and intensity but despite getting one back it was too late. Just not good enough.
