Australia V Malawi: Fifa Series Women’s International Football Friendly – Live

Key events

Show cardinal events only

Please move connected JavaScript to usage this feature

Many said nan Asian Cup was nan past chance for nan elder Matildas to get their hands connected immoderate elusive silverware, but successful nan last Sam Lewis saw a spark that wasn’t fresh to beryllium snuffed out.

Quick refresher connected nan Asian Cup last successful March.

The Matildas had Japan connected nan backmost ft for agelong periods of nan decider successful Sydney, arsenic Jack Snape reported, but their late, hopeless flurry of shots were scuffed, saved and blocked to extremity successful a constrictive defeat.

Japan observe winning nan last arsenic nan Matildas look their disappointment. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

The packed almanac and agelong Asian Cup way has resulted successful immoderate of nan Matildas’ champion players sitting this bid out.

Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry will return nan opportunity to rest, while Steph Catley had to retreat owed to injury.

Otherwise, Sam Kerr leads nan adjacent full-strength squad pinch stalwarts Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold besides making nan trip.

Preamble

G’day and invited to nan Guardian’s unrecorded sum of nan women’s Fifa Series lucifer betwixt Australia and Malawi. Jo Khan pinch you for nan minute-by-minute action from Nairobi (the action, not me).

It feels for illustration nan Matildas’ Asian Cup last against Japan was conscionable past week. In fact, that heartbreaking 1-0 loss was only 3 weeks ago, which is not a agelong clip betwixt world windows. You person to consciousness for nan European players successful peculiar who person ridiculously engaged nine schedules connected apical of nan agelong flights. At slightest nan travel to Kenya is easier than coming each nan measurement backmost to Australia mid-season. Along pinch nan big nation, India are nan different squad successful nan series, pinch those sides playing each different later connected Saturday.

Everything is astir nan travel to nan 2027 World Cup now, hence why Joe Montemurro has brought a near-full spot broadside into campy alternatively of testing caller legs, he says. The Matildas person ne'er played tourney shot successful Africa, and past played an African federation successful their 6-5 triumph complete Zambia astatine nan Paris Olympics. They person besides ne'er played Malawi, truthful it will beryllium a trial of their adaptability arsenic overmuch arsenic consistency aft nan Asian Cup.

It is forecast to deed a apical of 27C successful Nairobi today, correct connected nan 2pm kick-off clip astatine Nyayo National Stadium (9pm AEST), and location mightiness beryllium a fewer showers astir too.

Get successful touch pinch maine via email if you person immoderate thoughts to share: jo.khan@theguardian.com.

Let’s get into it!