Australia 0-1 Panama: international women’s football friendly - as it happened

1h ago 04.57 EDT Joe Montemurro finishes by saying that Teagan Micah copped a heavy challenge late in the game but they hope she hasn’t sustained a concussion. The Matildas could do with their No 1 back between the posts for the rematch at HBF Oval in Perth on Tuesday night. I’ll be with you again on Tuesday, but I’ll leave you for now with the match report from Bunbury. Matildas stunned by physical Panama in first defeat of Joe Montemurro era Read more Share Updated at 05.21 EDT

2h ago 04.55 EDT Matildas coach Joe Montemurro is up next to explain the loss to Paramount. We continue to try to play our style. Now we have to be smarter in using it at certain times. It was a very broken game, we couldn’t find any rhythm. It was a great game for all the the debutants and pairings. But it is a sign of where we are at. Just to give the debutants a feel and a taste, then we can give them the opportunities they deserve. But that is the point of this camp and this window. If I’m being brutally honest, I expected a little bit of a dip at some point. We can change personnel and go back to a higher rhythm. But it’s important that we continue on our way. We’re being proactive, we’re being possession based, because that’s what you need to compete at the the level. Share

2h ago 04.35 EDT Chloe Berryhill is talking to Paramount after taking another step toward a more permanent return to the full-strength squad. It’s not the result that we want but it’s building blocks for us. We’ve got a lot to look forward to but we have to get back to training and working away. We’re just blooding players at the moment, we’re playing a new system, playing a new way. But we have to give credit to the other side, they have skilful players and play a smart game. Share Updated at 04.43 EDT

2h ago 04.31 EDT Full-time: Australia 0-1 Panama The Matildas might have swung the changes and rolled out the debutants but Panama have pulled off a huge upset in the first women’s international in Bunbury. A smart poacher’s goal from teenage substitute Sherline King in the 59th minute proves the difference to leave Matildas coach Joe Montemurro with as many questions as answers from his third match in charge. Share

2h ago 04.31 EDT 97 mins: Oh, my… Michelle Heyman misses from barely a metre out from the goalmouth after a diving save from Cordoba. That was the chance! Share

2h ago 04.30 EDT 94 mins: Panama run down the clock beautifully while holding the ball in their own half. The Matildas are resorting to long balls but nothing is coming off. Share

2h ago 04.27 EDT 92 mins: The Matildas are knocking on the door with Taranto not giving up on a bouncing ball in between three Panama defenders int the box. Corner to Australia but Emily Van Egmond can’t get enough of the header. Share

2h ago 04.25 EDT 90 minutes: Six minutes remaining for Australia to find an equaliser, just the same for Panama to dig deep and hold on. Share

2h ago 04.24 EDT 89 mins: Late substitutions and two more debutants for Australia. Alexia Apostolakis and Grace Kuilamu earn their first caps in place of Torpey and McNamara. Panama captain Marta Cox is also done for the day. Share

2h ago 04.22 EDT 87 mins: A corner for the Matildas is slightly overhit and Panama almost do enough to clear. But the ball drops for Tash Prior to get a shot away that tumbles straight to the Panama keeper. Share

2h ago 04.21 EDT 85 mins: Chloe Lincoln dazzles with the ball at her feet to beat a Panama attacker after an under-hit back pass might have had more experienced keepers panicking. Not sure Joe Montemurro would have enjoyed it as much as Matildas fans though. Share

2h ago 04.19 EDT 83 mins: Holly McNamara pounces on the Panama defence trying to play out from the back and almost does enough to create a chance in the box. But the visitors’ low block has set up camp and the moment passes. Share

2h ago 04.17 EDT 81 mins: The Matildas are still searching for an opening that might help them line up a grandstand finish while Panama are more than comfortable making the most of any break in play. Share

2h ago 04.14 EDT 79 mins: Galabadaarchchi with an immediate impact as a clever dink finds Adriana Taranto charging through the line. But Farissa Cordoba dives to her left to collect. That was the Matildas best chance of the half, if not the game. Share

2h ago 04.13 EDT 77 mins: Panama make a quadruple substitution as they start to show signs of tiring. Australia join in on the changes with Jacynta Galabadaarchchi coming on for a debut alongside Emily Van Egmond. Alex Chidiac and Emily Gielnik head to the bench. All eyes will be on the attacking midfielder Galabadaarchchi from here. Share Updated at 04.13 EDT

2h ago 04.09 EDT 74 mins: The Matildas have the ball in the box but Panama are sitting deep now. This could be a taster of what’s to come over the remaining 20 minutes or so. Share

2h ago 04.08 EDT 72 mins: Katherin Castillo takes a shot from long range but hooks it to the right. The Matildas are up against it at the moment with Panama owning much of the territory and breaking down any idea of a counterattack with clever challenges. That does mean the yellow card count is mounting up. Share

2h ago 04.06 EDT 70 mins: Marta Cox swings a cross into a dangerous area but young keeper Chloe Lincoln is up to the task. Share

2h ago 04.05 EDT 67 mins: The game has lost a bit of fluidity with the mass substitutions across both sides and the wind blowing hard. Desire Salazar is wheeled back to the bench to watch the remaining half hour up close with her foot now in a moon boot. Share

2h ago 03.59 EDT 63 mins: Triple substitution for the Matildas and goalkeeper Teagan Micah is one of the three to make way. Hayley Raso and Chloe Berryhill are also done for the day. Chloe Lincoln steps between the posts, while Adriana Taranto makes her debut alongside Michelle Heyman. 63' Our first changes of the game, and it's a debut for Adriana Taranto.

⬇ Raso, Berryhill & Micah

⬆ Heyman, Taranto & Lincoln#Matildas #AUSvPAN #WAtheDreamState #BunburyBrighter #LoveBunbury — CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 5, 2025 Share

3h ago 03.56 EDT 60 mins: The Matildas almost respond immediately but the Panama keeper Cordoba dives low to her right and keeps the ball out. Share

3h ago 03.55 EDT GOAL! Australia 0-1 Panama (King '59) Panama’s teenage substitute Sherline King opens the scoring with a classic poacher’s goal. Marta Cox takes a shot but it is blocked by Micah, only for King to be best placed to knock the ball into the back of the net. Share

3h ago 03.52 EDT 56 mins: Panama keep playing through their creative veteran Marta Cox and their skipper puts a nice cross into the box. Micah comes to meet the ball in the air and wears a hefty blow for her troubles. The Matildas keeper stays down but it looks like she is just taking time to get her lungs working again. Share

3h ago 03.50 EDT 52 mins: The Matildas are controlling much of the play without offering much going forward. It might not be long until Michelle Heyman and/or Remy Siemsen are introduced – the latter in particular was very impressive in her last start against Slovenia. Share

3h ago 03.48 EDT It has only been a few weeks since Hands Oval hosted a first AFL match and paultonysaffigna wonders why the Matildas are now playing a women’s football friendly at the same venue. “The pictures of our national women’s team playing in an Aussie rules football ground just look terrible. Atmosphere seems dead and the distance from the managers and sideline is just silly. Otherwise, the game is quite entertaining with Panama putting in a great effort. Our Matildas, not surprisingly, looking disjointed.” Share

3h ago 03.45 EDT 50 mins: Play continues with Panama down a player as the visitors ponder making the first substitution. Share

3h ago 03.44 EDT 48 mins: Salazar stays down and is receiving treatment behind the goals as play resumes. The Panama midfielder lost a boot while running forward during the cross and was left grabbing at an ankle. Share

3h ago 03.42 EDT 46 mins: Panama kick-off and earn a couple of early free kicks. The first is of little concern in the midfield but the second gives the visitors an opportunity to cross the ball in from just beyond the top right corner of the box. The cross lands in Micha’s hands and Salazar has hit the deck and is rolling around in pain. Share

3h ago 03.40 EDT The weather has turned in Bunbury and the rain is bucketing down as the lights are on despite it being barely past 3.30pm local time. No subs for either team just yet, as Panama prepare to kick-off for the restart. Share

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