Tony Gustavsson has conceded he will need to review his game management after waiting until the 82nd minute to make his first substitute as the Matildas chased a crucial World Cup game against Nigeria.
But the coach defended his decision to bring on a defender for an attacker in the shock 3-2 loss, saying his team had prepared to use centre-back Alanna Kennedy as a forward when required.
Australia coach Tony Gustavsson shakes hands with Clare Hunt after the match.Credit: Reuters
Australia are in danger of a group-stage exit at their home World Cup after Thursday night’s capitulation at Suncorp Stadium, where Emily van Egmond put her country ahead near the end of the first-half, only for Nigeria to equalise before the break and then run away with the match.
But even after Osinachi Ohale put the African nation ahead 2-1 in the 65th minute and substitute Asisat Oshoala made it 3-1 in the 72nd, Gustavsson did not make a single change to his starting XI.
He finally turned to his bench eight minutes from the end of regulation time, at which point – with his side two goals down and needing more spark in attack – he pulled off winger Cortnee Vine and replaced her with central defender Clare Polkinghorne.
Three minutes later he introduced Alex Chidiac who, slotting in for Hayley Raso, offered a much-needed creative spark but had little time to properly make her mark.
Alanna Kennedy was thrown up front for the latter stages of Australia’s 3-2 loss to Nigeria.Credit: Reuters
“In terms of the late subs, I think that’s a fair question, and that’s something I need to look at as a coach,” Gustavsson said after the game. “Did I find the right time for the subs tonight?
“We did get a massive effect positively when we did it. Did we get that because I did it in the right moment? Or should I have done it earlier, and we could have played longer with that positive effect?
“As a coach, the number one challenge is to try to find the right answer before you know whether it’s right or wrong. I think some of the players on the park were actually performing pretty well. We had the momentum, and sometimes … you don’t want to disrupt the momentum in the game. I’m going to review it whether I did it too late or not.”
Gustavsson was more certain about his tactical call to replace an attacker with a defender, saying his players were prepared for the “going-for-the-goal scenario” with Kennedy up front.
Alex Chidiac offered a creative outlet but she was not introduced until the 85th minute.Credit: Reuters
“When it comes to saying that we replace an attacker with the defender, I think that’s a logic question,” he said. “Alanna is a brilliant attacking option for us.
“Alanna as a double nine as we call it, playing the two nines with an aerial presence up there, is something we’ve done in the past. Last time I think you guys saw it was against New Zealand when we scored those late goals and won the game in overtime. Alanna has a forward mindset, with her aerial [presence] and her finishing, so that’s something we’ve trained and prepared for.”
Gustavsson said Polkinghorne’s introduction added an attacking set-play presence and winning mentality.
“She’s scored tons of game winners from set plays, so she gave us another tool,” he said. “I know it can look different – look strange – when you take an attacker out and put a defender on, but it’s more about what type of attacking tool do you want in that type of game?
“And I think actually we’ve got a good effect on it tonight, but not all the way in. But we were very, very close. Look at Chids, 100 per cent chance. Ellie 100 per cent chance. Caitlin, 100 per cent chance. All that was after the game changers come on. We could’ve scored four goals in the last 10 minutes.
“Chids [Chidiac] came in and was that game changer. She was upset afterwards that she didn’t score but … she did exactly what she was asked to do.”
