Australia v Malawi: Fifa Series women’s international football friendly - live

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54 mins: The Matildas collect a Malawi goalkick and hold the ball at halfway. Foord cuts through Malawi plays across the field before going one touch too far and losing the ball. Malawi clears the ball which Torpey brings under control again.

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52 mins: Nevin loses the ball at the halfway line. Malawi send a long shot Arnold’s way and she jumps to save it right on the goalline.

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50 mins: Foord is brought down on the edge of the area resulting in a free kick. One inch further and it would be a penalty. Van Egmond takes a shot and it’s on target but palmed away by the goalkeeper. There’s a scramble in the area before the ball finds it way out and Australia build from the back again.

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48 mins: Siemsen gets in on the action by giving away a free kick. Malawi rush forward frantically after the kick is taken but can’t get the ball under control and Arnold takes the goal kick.

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46 mins: Raso has an early chance as she dribbles into the area only for a brilliant tackle from Malawi to cut her run short, the keeper able to stop the ball going out for a corner.

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Second half

Peeeeeeep! Malawi are making an attacking change too. Mulimbika off for Henry.

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OK Kerr is off and Remy Siemsen is coming on. That’s great, now get Foord and Van Egmond off and inject some energy with the youngsters on the bench.

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And the second from Kerr:

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Here’s the first goal:

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Half-time

That’s the first half in Nairobi and I would think the Matildas will be disappointed with only two goals from their many chances. Malawi were excellent in defence, in closing down Australia’s passes, tackling hard and pressing high to catch them offside. They also benefited from some poor first touches from Kerr and Foord in particular.

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45 + 3 mins: A huge chance for Malawi with a free kick in the final third. It looks like Wheeler blocks Arnold’s view as the ball travels towards the near post and it ricochets off Arnold. She blocks the next shot and then stops the final attempt right on the goalline. Torpey surges forward at the other end, crossing in low to Foord who can’t get on to it in time and touches it wide of the far post.

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45 mins: Raso bursts forward with Australia on the counterattack and is brought down from behind. The free kick finds Foord who passes across to Kerr in the centre but the Australian forwards have all pushed too far and the flag goes up.

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43 mins: Foord has an opportunity on the left now. She quickly gets a shot off from distance but the Malawi goalkeeper has surged off her line to meet it and does well to block the effort.

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Goal! Australia 2-0 Malawi (Kerr 41')

Torpey passes out to Foord on the right outside the area who takes a touch and looks up to see Kerr in the middle. The cross in is brought down by Kerr who lets the ball bounce before slamming her shot home from close range. That’s more like it from the captain.

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39 mins: Malawi have a free kick a few metres out from the penalty area on the right. The direct shot is picked up by a well-positioned Arnold. Raso appears in clear space with the ball in the final third and takes a shot after the whistle has blown for offside, getting herself a yellow card instead of a goal.

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37 mins: Kerr looks tired, why didn’t they just give her and Foord a rest? Malawi make a dangerous through ball into the area with a player storming in behind. Arnold is able to rush out and pick it up before any damage can be done though. Straight back at the other end Foord reaches the touchline and cuts back into the area, hitting a block of defenders.

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Updated at 08.04 EDT

35 mins: Chidiac shows her speed and skill on the left, running into the area and passing to Kerr in front of an open goal. Again Kerr’s touch is poor and it goes high and wide past the far post.

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33 mins: Unfortunately there are no photos coming through from the ground yet. OK break over. Wheeler passes neatly to Kerr in the area but the captain’s first touch is heavy and they have to start the play again.

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31 mins: Malawai are caught offside again. The teams will take a quick drink break at the half-hour point to help cope with the heat.

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29 mins: Australia are getting through Malawi’s line but not finishing those opportunities. Torpey has a chance but her cross into the on-running Kerr goes to the keeper. Wheeler sends a long ball to Kerr which is scooped up safely by the Malawi keeper. Chidiac loses possession in midfield allowing Malawi a chance to press up the right which is squandered.

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27 mins: Another chance gets away as Raso cuts back to Van Egmond running up on her inside. Her cross is mistimed and travels behind Kerr and Foord who have already pushed up to the six-yard box.

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25 mins: Raso is fouled again and Van Egmond steps up to take the free kick. The out-swinging cross is blocked by Malawi and Australia let it go all the way back to Arnold to reset.

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23 mins: Van Egmond passes straight through to Raso who is running into the area. The winger nails the low cross to Kerr close to the goalline but she isn’t able to get a foot on it. The Matildas take another short corner, the resulting cross finds Rule in front of goal who heads it over the crossbar.

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21 mins: Khumal takes a free kick for Malawi from just inside their half, sending it too far over the Australia defence and into the waiting Arnold. Nevin and Chidiac work some nice short passes on the left.

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19 mins: Raso finds Torpey with a through ball on the right who cuts it back into Kerr. The captain immediately finds herself facing a wall of defenders and it goes out for a corner. They take a short corner, it comes to Van Egmond to crosses it high towards the far post where Kerr can’t quite get her head to it.

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17 mins: Torpey races the ball to the touchline and crosses it in too close to the post and into the goalkeepers hands. Kerr and Raso link up at the edge of the area but Raso is blocked by the defender.

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15 mins: Raso receives a long ball from defence but is caught offside by Malawi’s high line. Then it’s Foord’s turn on the left with another offside call. They might not have been expecting Malawi to press so high.

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13 mins: There’s a pause while one of the Malawi players receives some treatment. She is walking off so that play can resume.

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11 mins: Australia take a breath and work across the back four before passing forward and losing possession briefly. Torpey breaks into space past the halfway line on the right and dispatches a beautiful pass for Kerr to run on to. She gets a touch but it ends up going out for a corner.

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9 mins: Raso pressures Khumalo to the touchline and this time gives away the foul herself. She missed out on Asian Cup matches after her early concussion and looks like she is ready to fire today.

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7 mins: Chidiac puts through a nice pass to Raso coming in from the right but she is brought down hard by the Malawi defender. The Matildas are going to have to be wary of how Malawi use their bodies on the ball.

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Goal! Australia 1-0 Malawi (Van Egmond 5')

The Matildas take a quick free kick just past halfway, sending the ball over the top of the Malawi defenders. Van Egmond runs on to it and manages to poke it past the goalkeeper who is totally caught unawares.

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2 mins: Arnold gets a couple of touches early as the Matildas get settled and Malawi indicate they aren’t going to make this easy.

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Kick-off

Peeeeeeeeeep!

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Anthems have been sung. Matildas are in their fluro yellow and green home kit. Malawi in Red. There’s a very small crowd at Nyayo National Stadium, including a few Australian flags.

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Malawi XI

1. Sikelo

4. Madise (c)

6. Kabzere

9. Thom

10. Mulimbika

13. Chipikula

15. Chinayamula

17. Chinzimu

18. Khumalo

21. Alufandika

22. Mkandawire

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Australia XI

Oops I didn’t actually post the Matildas lineup! Here it is:

1. Arnold (GK)

2. Nevin

3. Heatley

6. Wheeler

8. Torpey

9. Foord

10. Van Egmond

13. Chidiac

16. Raso

20. Kerr (c)

24. Rule

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Updated at 06.51 EDT

Well, that’s a bit different. Montemurro’s has opted for youth at the back and experience at the front today. It’s great to see Charlie Rule getting her third Matildas start. She was impressive in her Asian Cup appearance and has been dependable for Brighton (including in that upset win over Arsenal last weekend). Of course Catley and Hunt are injured, so it’s the perfect chance to have a look at an entirely new back four.

And Chidiac! After missing out on minutes in the Asian Cup she will finally get a chance to start making her case for the 2027 World Cup, and could be key to getting through the Malawi defence if they stay deep.

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If you’re in Australia the only way to watch this match is on Paramount+, no free-to-air broadcast.

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Many said the Asian Cup was the last chance for the senior Matildas to get their hands on some elusive silverware, but in the final Sam Lewis saw a spark that wasn’t ready to be snuffed out.

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Quick refresher on the Asian Cup final in March.

The Matildas had Japan on the back foot for long periods of the decider in Sydney, as Jack Snape reported, but their late, desperate flurry of shots were scuffed, saved and blocked to end in a narrow defeat.

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The packed calendar and long Asian Cup path has resulted in some of the Matildas’ best players sitting this series out.

Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry will take the opportunity to rest, while Steph Catley had to withdraw due to injury.

Otherwise, Sam Kerr leads the near full-strength squad with stalwarts Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold also making the trip.

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Preamble

Jo Khan

G’day and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the women’s Fifa Series match between Australia and Malawi. Jo Khan with you for the minute-by-minute action from Nairobi (the action, not me).

It feels like the Matildas’ Asian Cup final against Japan was just last week. In fact, that heartbreaking 1-0 loss was only three weeks ago, which is not a long time between international windows. You have to feel for the European players in particular who have ridiculously busy club schedules on top of the long flights. At least the trip to Kenya is easier than coming all the way back to Australia mid-season. Along with the host nation, India are the other team in the series, with those sides playing each other later on Saturday.

Everything is about the journey to the 2027 World Cup now, hence why Joe Montemurro has brought a near-full strength side into camp instead of testing fresh legs, he says. The Matildas have never played tournament football in Africa, and last played an African nation in their 6-5 win over Zambia at the Paris Olympics. They have also never played Malawi, so it will be a test of their adaptability as much as consistency after the Asian Cup.

It is forecast to hit a top of 27C in Nairobi today, right on the 2pm kick-off time at Nyayo National Stadium (9pm AEST), and there might be a few showers around too.

Get in touch with me via email if you have any thoughts to share: jo.khan@theguardian.com.

Let’s get into it!

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