Emma Burke 
The Matildas starting 11 before the game against Argentina at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Photo: Marcus Robertson/Round Ball Australia
Goals from debutant Kahli Johnson and Kaitlyn Torpey secured a 2-0 win for the Matildas over Argentina at Marvel Stadium, as newer players took their opportunity with both hands.
Entering into her first camp, Johnson secured her first cap, first start, and scored her first ever goal, firmly marking her arrival to the National Team.
It was defender Charli Grant, who had an incredible game at right back, that set up the scoring opportunity for Johnson. The perfectly weighted cross only needed a glancing touch from Johnson to send it back across the face of goal and out of the reach of Argentinian Keeper Abigaíl Chaves.
Johnson spoke earlier about wanting to do her best in her first camp, and she certainly managed that and more.
“I don’t think I believed what happened,” Johnson said after the game about her goal.
Argentina’s Head Coach Germán Portanova expressed his frustration with the refereeing in the post match conference, saying Johnson’s goal should have been called offside.
“The first goal was offside… this style of refereeing does make me angry, very angry,” Portanova said.
In response to the possibility of the goal being offside Johnson asked, “if it doesn’t get called is it offside?”
Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni chimed in too saying “ask Izzy Gomez,” referring to the goal Gomez scored in the A-League Women semi final game between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City.
Australia’s second goal, however, could have nothing said against it.
Katilyn Torpey fired off a cross and immediately collapsed from where she sent it, clearly thinking she had mishit the ball and completely ruined the chance.
While it was a poor looking cross, it was a perfect shot, which looped over the keeper and into the side netting.
“It was probably the old mishit cross trick,” Sermanni said good humouredly.
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