Matildas defeated by Canada 1-0 in Christine Sinclair’s final match

Matildas closed out 2023 with a 1-0 friendly loss to reigning Olympic champions Canada and Christine Sinclair in her final match. 

Australia Women were defeated 1-0 by Canada in a friendly on Tuesday night in Vancouver BC (Wednesday morning AEDT). A goal from Canada’s Quinn was the difference in the match. Christine Sinclair did not score against the Aussies, but the night was all about the Canadian legend as it was her last ever match for Canada.  

Matildas close out 2023 with a whimper 

The Australia Women’s National Team experienced the highest of highs in 2023. The Matildas dazzled fans at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and nearly secured a place in the final. Following the tournament, it seemed like the sky was the limit for the Matildas. However, it now seems like the squad has come crashing back down to earth.  
 
Since getting knocked out in the third place playoff at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Australia have played just five matches. The double header against Canada this week were the only two of those five matches the Matildas played against genuine competition. When looking back at the results now, it is safe to say that Australia did not rise to the occasion.  
 
The Matildas played Canada on Saturday in their first of two friendly against the Canadians during this international window. Australia were battered 5-0 in that match. The result on Wednesday was an improvement on that result, but it was not pretty.  
 
Australia were unable to create any chances against Canada. The Matildas did not even get a single shot on target. The Canadians managed to get six shots on target, and had over twice as many overall shots.  
 
These two losses to Canada are Australia’s final two matches of 2023. Hopefully the Matildas can put these losses behind them and start 2024 strong. 

Sam Kerr absence devastating for the Matildas

One of the first things Australia can do to make sure they start 2024 stronger than they ended 2023 is getting Sam Kerr back from injury. The Chelsea striker did not join her Matildas teammates in Canada for their two friendlies in British Columbia due to a foot injury.  
 
The Matildas were able to cope well without Kerr for much of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. It is now clear that this is not something Australia can replicate regularly. Without their star striker, the Matildas look rudderless. Kerr is the focal point of Tony Gustavsson’s attack and obviously a tremendous goalscorer.  
 
Injuries have kept Kerr from contributing to Australia recently. If she somehow misses the 2024 Olympics, the Matildas could be in real trouble. Right now, the betting sites have Australia as one of the favourites. Kerr being out would turn Australia into big outsiders.

Christine Sinclair says farewell to international soccer   

Australia soccer fans are rightfully upset about their side’s back-to-back losses to Canada. The rest of the soccer world, however, treated the matches as a reason to celebrate.  
 
Legendary forward Christine Sinclair announced on October 20 that she was finally retiring from international soccer. The Portland Thorns star plans to come back for at least one more NWSL season with her club, but she is done with the Canadian Women’s National Team.  
 
The now 40-year-old made her debut for Canada when she was just 16 years old. In the 14 years since her first appearance, Sinclair has earned 331 caps with her national team and scored 190 goals for Canada. No player, male or female, has scored more goals for their national team than Sinclair. Only one player has more international caps than the British Columbia native. 

Sinclair and Canada won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. They are outsiders to repeat as champions in Paris in 2024, but these matches against Australia show why so many people quietly view them as dark horse contenders. We do know one thing, the Matildas will probably be hoping they avoid Canada at the tournament.