The Australian women’s soccer team, the Matildas, will face China in a farewell match at Adelaide Oval on May 31, 2024, before heading to the Paris Olympics. The game will be the first time the Matildas have played in Adelaide since 2019, and will showcase their talent and preparation for the global tournament.
Matildas secure Olympic spot with dominant performance
The Matildas qualified for the Paris Olympics last month, when they thrashed Uzbekistan 10-0 in Melbourne in front of a crowd of 54,000. The team scored six goals in the first half, and four more in the second, with captain Sam Kerr netting a hat-trick. The Matildas finished top of their group, ahead of China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan, and booked their ticket to Paris.
The Matildas have qualified for their fifth consecutive Olympics, and will be aiming to improve on their quarter-final exit at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The team has been drawn in Group F, along with Sweden, Canada and Zambia. The Matildas will play their first match against Sweden on July 22, 2024, at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Matildas to play China in Adelaide for the first time in five years
The Matildas will play China in a friendly match at Adelaide Oval on May 31, 2024, as part of their ‘Til It’s Done Farewell’ international series. The game will be the last chance for the fans to see the Matildas in action before they depart for France. It will also be the first time the Matildas have played in Adelaide since November 2019, when they beat Chile 1-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
China is the reigning AFC Women’s Asian Cup champion, and a FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 participant. The team is ranked 19th in the world, and has a long history of rivalry with the Matildas. The two teams have met 40 times, with the Matildas winning 24, drawing 10 and losing six. The last time they played was in March 2020, when the Matildas won 2-1 in Sydney.
The game will be a valuable opportunity for the Matildas to test themselves against a quality opponent, and to fine-tune their tactics and strategies for the Olympics. The game will also be a chance for the players to impress coach Tony Gustavsson, who will have to make some tough decisions on the final squad selection.
Adelaide Oval to host a historic soccer match
The Adelaide Oval will host a historic soccer match, as the Matildas take on China in front of an expected crowd of over 30,000. The venue is best known for hosting cricket and Australian rules football, but has also hosted some notable soccer events in the past. The most recent was in January 2020, when Adelaide United beat Melbourne Victory 1-0 in the A-League.
The Adelaide Oval has a capacity of 53,500, and is regarded as one of the most picturesque and iconic stadiums in Australia. The stadium has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, and boasts modern facilities and amenities. The stadium is located in the heart of Adelaide, and is easily accessible by public transport and car.
The Matildas will be the first national women’s soccer team to play at the Adelaide Oval, and will hope to inspire the next generation of female soccer players in South Australia. The state has a strong soccer culture, and has produced some of the Matildas’ stars, such as Emily van Egmond, Michelle Heyman and Emma Checker.
Tickets for the Adelaide Oval game go on sale on Friday, March 8, 2024, and will cost $35 for adults, $20 for juniors and $90 for families. The game will kick off at 7:40 pm ACST, and will be broadcast live on ABC and SBS.
