Australia v New Zealand: Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 women’s football – live!

17 mins Raso is stopped in her tracks again, this time by Green on the edge of the box to draw a corner. But it’s what happened before that roused the senses, after Emily van Egmond delivered a delightful long ball that Kerr rises for but backs down to let is sail through to her teammate in Raso. Almost own goal! Carpenter whips in a cross and in an attempt to intervene Abby Erceg, at the near post, heads it straight towards her own goal, forcing Nayler into a reflex save.

14 mins A handball denies Raso a chance to make her move. NZ are pressing high, I wonder how long they’ll be able to keep this up. Kerr takes a lovely turmn down the right and has her eye on Foord across field but the defence have it under control. Kerr could have run that further.

11 mins Simon dispatches a lovely ball in behind. Foord is off the shoulder but the execution isn’t there this time. The Ferns regain possession and Katie Bowen is away for what turns out to be an aesthetically pleasing passage of play. She utilises Hassett on the right flank and something is building, but Bowen flunks an errant pass and it’s all over.

8 mins Foord wins a footrace with Catherine Bott to continue Australia’s aggressive start. NZ have settled somewhat after a nervous start, but Raso is quick, and she’s in the box before you’ve had time to blink. Simon attempts to head a high ball but Green wins the foul and NZ the free kick.

6 mins Simon thumps it wide to left wing-back Catley, who inexplicably sends the ball skyward and out. Long-time Ferns keeper Erin Nayler gets it away but it’s soon right back with her. A second crack evades Hassett and gifts Australia the throw-in slightly inside their own half.

3 mins Australia are on the front foot straight away and Kerr, who has been marked out of a couple of recent friendlies is right in the mix including a goalmouth scramble. Chance is on the ball and Hassett is through in space but Williams scoops it straight up.

The Matildas have their photo taken holding up the Aboriginal flag. Really nice acknowledgement. Lydia Williams and Kyah Simon are both Indigenous.

I’ve just had a question about how to watch the game on TV in Australia. The feed has just started on Seven’s main channel (Farmer Wants a Wife obviously ran over). But the teams have just walked out into an empty Tokyo Stadium and are lining up for the anthems.

Have a look at this goal from Marta against China tonight. She was already the Goat but is now also the first player, male or female, to score at five consecutive Olympics. She is 35. What a career.

ICYMI there was major news earlier this evening, when Brisbane was granted the right to host the 2032 Olympics. It was a foregone conclusion given the Queensland bid was the only one left in the running, but something to look forward to all the same. It will be Australia’s third Olympics and second Paralympics.

Did anyone else watch the International Olympic Committee’s vote live on YouTube? Oh.

Sam Lewis has prepared a nice preview for this match and looking ahead to the rest of the group stage.

“Expectations for Tokyo, given all that has happened and continues to happen, will vary. New Zealand come into the Games having not played a competitive match since March 2020. Sweden have an ageing squad while the USA have not entirely convinced in their preparation matches, scraping results against Portugal and Nigeria in June.

There is no predicting, then, how this will go for Australia, who are still winless under Gustavsson after a difficult, inactive pandemic period.”