Mexico score late winner against sloppy Matildas

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The Matildas have suffered defeat against Mexico for the first time in over 20 years, with an injury time Diana Ordóñez winner giving El Tri Femenil a 1-0 win in front of 23,167 fans in Newcastle on Saturday night.

It is just the second time Mexico has beaten the Matildas in their history and first time since 2004.

Despite dominating with 61 per cent possession and controlling territory — the Matildas earned almost three times as many passes in Mexico's half as they allowed in theirs — the Matildas always seemed prone to a poor touch and, for all their time on the ball, did precious little with it.

"The final pass just wasn't there," Caitlin Foord told Channel 10.

"That's something we need to be better at going into the next game, and just more shots as well."

Flashes of the Matildas' clear brilliance were all too often interjected by some desperately poor quality touches unbecoming of the national team.

Defensively too, the Matildas looked vulnerable throughout, too often going missing as Mexico counter attacked with precision and class.

That culminated in a gut-punch of a stoppage time winner as Charlyn Corral raced free down the left side, linking up cleverly with Alice Soto, who squared to Ordóñez to calmly slot home the winner.

Ellie Carpenter captained a strong Matildas team in her 100th international appearance and the side started brightly, fashioning a number of early opportunities through super star forwards Mary Fowler, Foord and Sam Kerr.

Ellie Carpenter looked sharp in the opening exchanges of her 100th cap. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)

However, it was Mexico who had the first shot on goal through Nicolette Hernández, and enjoyed the better of the opportunities throughout the game.

In truth, Mexico could have scored two before they did find the back of the net, 19-year-old Montserrat Saldívar blasting wide with the goal at her mercy early in the second half and Greta Espinoza sending a free header over the bar from a corner.

The Matildas continued to press, managing 19 shots in total although just four were on target.

"We had enough chances to win the game ourselves," Fowler told 10.

"Individually they're very technical … I think [they] exposed our defence a little bit."

Joe Montermurro, who only made just three changes across the entirety match, noted that the result was not the important part of this game.

"We're all thinking about the result … these are World Cup preparation games," he told Channel 10.

"This type of opponent was chosen on purpose, they press in a very interesting way.

"I was so proud, we got out of their press many, many times and created some goalscoring opportunities, it just wasn't to be."

The Matildas take on Mexico again on Tuesday night at Western Sydney Stadium.

Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 7:17pm

Live updates: Matildas vs Mexico

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:56pm

The Matildas get another chance on Tuesday

(Getty Images)

Revenge is something the Matildas may be able to achieve as soon as Tuesday, when these two teams meet again at Western Sydney Stadium.

Will Joe Montemurro make changes? The defence seems to be a problem area, the connections not quite firing yet and the lack of cohesion with a midfield that is fine offensively but absent defensively a real concern.

But, as Montermurro said, this was an important lesson.

The question will be whether the Matildas will learn from it.

I'll catch you back here on Tuesday at the same time, about 6:00pm AEST for a 7:00pm AEST kick off.

Until then, good night.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:39pm

'We have to be smarter': Montemurro

Joe Montemurro is speaking now.

This could be interesting...

"These are important internationals for us ... they're a very good team, they're not a 32-ranked team, they're in the top 20 for sure.
"About 20 minutes into the first half they pressed us a little differently, we didn't expect it, we took a while to adjust.
"Second half we did enough, but in the end, we got caught on the break, we have to be smarter."

He says the final touch was the biggest issue.

"We all talk about the final third, that's more instinctive, having that coldness in front of goal, we didn't have that."

He also notes that the result is not the end game here with these matches.

"We're all thinking about the result ... these are world cup preparation games. This type of opponent was chosen on purpose," he says.

"They press in a very interesting way, I was so proud, we got out of their press many, many times and created some goalscoring opportunities, it just wasn't to be."

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:32pm

Mexico is thrilled with the win

Diana Ordóñez is speaking on Channel 10 now.

"It felt great," the California-born player says.
"We know that the Matildas are an incredible team ... obviously the goal felt great, I'm really proud of the team, we really gutted it out in the end.
"I think we did a good job of holding our own in the first half."

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:23pm

Caitlin Foord spoke about that

It's always a problem when a team has a superstar goal scorer that the subconscious reaction for the other attackers is to look for them , when playing the ball themselves is the correct option . I think this has been happening tonight with Sam .
- Phillip

She did just allude to that a bit there, saying that she needs to take on more responsibility herself at times.

It's interesting, because Kerr was being looked for a lot, but even when she got the chances her final touch let her down.

But she wasn't the only one.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:22pm

'The final pass just wasn't there': Foord

Caitlin Foord is speaking now.

"We know how important these games are for our rankings," she tells Channel 10.
"Extremely disappointed especially when we dominated most of it, I feel.
"The final pass just wasn't there, that's something we need to be better at going into the next game, and just more shots as well."

She says it's short turn around and getting recovered.

"We're gunna have to make a statement in the next game," she says.
"I think we just need to tighten things up a little bit.
"In the front third we just need to get some more shots and final pass needs to be better."

She adds that she felt like she had some great chances in the first half but her touch let her down a bit at the end.

She's not wrong - the Matildas all suffered from lead foot syndrome at times.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:17pm

Matildas defence 'exposed' by Mexico

Mary Fowler is speaking to Channel 10.

"Disappointing to get a goal at the end, but we had enough chances to win the game ourselves," Fowler says.
"It's a good opportunity for us to verse sides like this.
"Individually they're very technical ... I think it exposed our defence a little bit."

She says it's good for the team to spend some time together.

"The more time we spend together, the better we'll get."

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:12pm

FT: Matildas fall to 1-0 defeat

(Getty Images)

A stoppage time goal to Diana Ordóñez is the difference between the two sides in Newcastle!

But in reality, the difference was that the Mexicans were more clinical.

A disappointing night for the Matildas, who were exposed at times tonight with some poor errors.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:09pm

90+2' MEXICO SCORE IN STOPPAGE TIME!

Charlyn Corral raced free down the left side, the Matildas defence disintegrating.

She squared to Alice Soto, who had options either side and to go for goal herself, but turned it to Diana Ordóñez, who slotted past Arnold.

And yes, the Mexican commentary is as good as you'd expect.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:09pm

90' Penalty shout for the Matildas?!

The Matildas appeal for a penalty after Kerr spins and the ball pops up and hits Greta Espinoza on the elbow.

How on earth she could have done anything about it I do not know, but with no VAR it's gunna be a tough one to give.

With VAR? I mean, who knows...

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:08pm

It's not been great...

This is killing me. Feels so static despite our stellar team, although it's good to have a tough friendly, I suppose…
- lulu

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:07pm

88' Free header missed!

Mexico has a free header in the penalty area from the corner! That's a horrid mix up at the back from the Matildas!

Greta Espinoza can't believe her luck, or that she spurned it by heading wide, falling to her knees in anguish.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:06pm

88' Save by Arnold!

Sam Kerr makes a heavy touch and gives up possession at one end as the Matildas challenged.

Mexico flip the pitch and release Corral, whose cross-cage shot is just deflected wide by Arnold, who makes a good sprawling save.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:04pm

86' Chance Mexico!

Oh that was almost a disaster for Rule!

A shot from Alice Soto is thrashed towards goal, and Rule gets her foot to it, deflecting the ball over her own crossbar and behind for a corner.

The corner is short again, Soto flinging another cross from the left but the Matildas clear.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:02pm

Attendance: 23,167

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:02pm

83' Chance Mexico

Caitlyn Torpey does well to block Reyna Reyes this time.

Mexico go short from the corner, Corral attempting a shot from outside the penalty area, curling an effort just over the crossbar.

Changes for the Matildas, Chidiac comes on.

Very late to be making changes...

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 9:00pm

81' Caitlin Foord vs Reyna Reyes

Foord will wake up later tonight believing that she can still feel Reyna Reyes's breath on the back of her neck, so closely has the Mexican defender shepherded the Arsenal striker tonight.

It's been a great battle, as Foord gets blocked away once more.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 8:58pm

80' Chance Mexico!

Soto with a magical ball in behind to Ordóñez, who somehow manages to trip herself up and attempt a scissor kick while lying prostrate on the ground!

Had she kept her feet, it would only have been Arnold to beat from about six yards out - another brilliant chance for Mexico.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 8:55pm

77' Chance Fowler

Carpenter intercepted the ball out from the Mexicans, played the ball to Fowler, who turned and shot and stung the palms of Esthefanny Barreras.

A long range effort that didn't ever seriously look like beating the keeper, but she didn't take it cleanly and any player following up may have had a chance to capitalise there - but nobody was quick enough.

Sat 6 Jun 2026 at 8:53pm

75' Great chance Matildas

Again, some lovely stuff from the Matildas right up til the moment they need to play the final ball.

Carpenter found Kennedy, who looks up and fired a low pass towards Foord, who attempted a cute little flick to Kerr but didn't make enough meaningful contact.

*Sigh*

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