![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764530230_348_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Alanna Kennedy\u2019s rocket in the 19th minute of the clash was enough to separate the sides at the break, but most eyes were on Kerr\u2019s progress since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in January 2024. <\/p>\n
The Matildas\u2019 skipper was surprisingly sharp despite lacking considerable game minutes.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Kerr has added more quality, street smarts and better timing to her game.<\/p>\n
Kerr was replaced at the break for Holly McNamara.<\/p>\n
Hayley Raso made it 2-0 with a super sweet, angled volley from 10m after a brilliant Steph Catley corner turned into a defensive nightmare for New Zealand in the 70th minute.<\/p>\n
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 02: Alanna Kennedy of the Matildas celebrates after scoring her teams first goal with Sam Kerr of the Matildas during the International Friendly match between Australia Matildas and New Zealand Football Ferns at Coopers Stadium on December 02, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m definitely feeling good and I love playing for Australia,\u2018\u2019 Raso told Paramount Plus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe is my happy place.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a fitting finale, New Zealand\u2019s legendary Annalie Longo was given a standing ovation from the 15,097 partisan fans when she entered the fray and wore the captain\u2019s armband in her last international appearance for the Football Ferns.<\/p>\n
Longo, 34, made her international debut in 2006, as a 15-year-old.<\/p>\n
Kerr Boom<\/p>\n
Kerr starting her first Matildas game in Adelaide since playing for 69 minutes in a 3-0 loss to England away on October 28 was enough to remind everyone why she is irreplaceable.<\/p>\n
Since an anterior cruciate injury in January 2024, the world game and the Matildas have missed her pace, poise and ruthless attacking instinct.<\/p>\n
At Hindmarsh, Kerr, playing her first minutes on Australian soil since that brutal ACL blow, lifted the team and electrified the crowd, giving a glimpse of the impact she can have in a game.<\/p>\n
Kerr\u2019s combination passes were a treat.<\/p>\n
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 02: Sam Kerr of the Matildas during the International Friendly match between Australia Matildas and New Zealand Football Ferns at Coopers Stadium on December 02, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
In the 19th minute, Kerr\u2019s quick thinking inside pass carved the opening goal for Kennedy.<\/p>\n
A simple throw-in from Ellie Carpenter led to the damage when Kerr became involved in the power play.<\/p>\n
Kerr released the hard-running Raso inside the box with a deft touch before a loose ball rolled out to Kennedy, who rifled the ball home from 12 metres. <\/p>\n
That goal was a superb snapshot of Kerr\u2019s inner sanctum.<\/p>\n
Pepe\u2019s Blueprint<\/p>\n
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro\u2019s side hosts the Philippines in the opening round of the Asian Cup at Perth Stadium on March 1 after last claiming the coveted title in 2010.<\/p>\n
In just his eighth match in charge, it\u2019s clear \u201cPepe\u201d Montemurro is deliberately reshaping the Matildas\u2019 identity.<\/p>\n
Montemurro made six changes to the side which belted the Football Ferns 5-0 in Gosford last Friday, but the song remained the same. <\/p>\n
His back line is anchored by the elegant Catley, 31, who has become the side\u2019s calm, candid organiser.<\/p>\n
Rarely wasteful in possession and tactically astute, Catley of England\u2019s Arsenal, is being used in a way that maximises her strengths \u2014 composure, clarity, and clean distribution.<\/p>\n
‘In the mix!’ Will Kerr play against NZ? | 01:09<\/p>\n
Montemurro has introduced a more assertive philosophy built on a structured high press, smarter occupation of space between the lines, and a refined blend of tempo and patience.<\/p>\n
The Matildas now look more cohesive in transition, more purposeful in build-up, and more willing to control games rather than to simply react to them.<\/p>\n
With these shifts taking shape, Australia is beginning to resemble a side capable of re-entering the global elite \u2014 potentially pushing back into the top four nations after the momentum generated by the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup on home soil.<\/p>\n
Overkill<\/p>\n
The Matildas avoided the worst possible punishment when players chose to be too cute and play their way out of defensive trouble when uncompromising leadership was needed seven minutes before the break.<\/p>\n
Too many Matildas touches near the byline, and a wayward pass into the middle of the pitch handed the Football Ferns the best chance of a first half dominated by the hosts.<\/p>\n
Matildas custodian Teagan Micah was forced into a brilliant save and kept a clean sheet when New Zealand\u2019s Grace Wisnewski was allowed a close range shot on target. <\/p>\n
Women\u2019s friendly match<\/p>\n
Australia (Alanna Kennedy 19, Hayley Raso 70m) New Zealand at Coopers Stadium \u2013 Referee: Hong Yu (China) – Crowd: 15,097.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sam Kerr starred for 45 minutes in a 2-0 Matildas win over New Zealand at Coopers Stadium on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322766,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3443,177784,181708,181715,181705,181712,64,63,689,181696,181698,181710,181701,181707,181711,181704,132254,1208,2057,181703,22691,181717,181714,181706,2105,24011,181700,177793,31550,181709,143227,132827,124616,28526,151619,11326,673,1736,44,3583,677,120755,33064,181697,1124,33833,43245,181713,181716,181695,181699,181702],"class_list":["post-322765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-adelaide","tag-alanna-kennedy","tag-annalie-longo","tag-anterior-cruciate-injury","tag-anterior-cruciate-ligament","tag-assertive-philosophy","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-ball-home","tag-brilliant-save","tag-clean-distribution","tag-combination-passes","tag-cross-ocean-rivals","tag-defensive-nightmare","tag-defensive-trouble","tag-ellie-carpenter","tag-england","tag-europe","tag-familiar-faces","tag-final-clash","tag-first-half-performance","tag-fitting-finale","tag-game-minutes","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-gosford","tag-grace-wisnewski","tag-holly-mcnamara","tag-home-soil","tag-inner-sanctum","tag-international-appearance","tag-international-debut","tag-international-friendly","tag-joe-montemurro","tag-long-awaited-return","tag-national-team","tag-new-south-wales","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-northern-europe","tag-oceania","tag-opening-goal","tag-opening-round","tag-partisan-fans","tag-south-australia","tag-standing-ovation","tag-steph-catley","tag-super-striker","tag-title-statement","tag-uncompromising-leadership","tag-world-game","tag-worst-possible-punishment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}