Matildas fall to first loss under Joe Montemurro in 1-0 defeat to Panama at Hands Oval in Bunbury

Panama have inflicted a first defeat on Joe Montemurro’s Matildas, as Australia were downed 1-0 in their historic clash at Hands Oval in Bunbury.

In front of 10,727 fans, Sherline King’s 59th-minute winner made Australia pay for a disjointed performance, as the physical Panama outfit disrupted the Matildas’ rhythm.

The home side failed to properly test the opposing goalkeeper, although substitute Michelle Heyman should have secured a late equaliser after Alexia Apostolakis’ shot was spilled, but the striker put the ball over the bar from close range.

After improving across the span of their two-game series Slovenia, the Matildas were brought back down to earth in their first-ever trip to WA’s South-West.

And while the inclement weather failed to drown out fans’ voices, the grey skies were somewhat symbolic of Australia’s afternoon as they failed to penetrate Panama’s defensive set-up.

Montemurro fielded almost an entirely new team from the side who drew 1-1 with Slovenia in Perth, and the Matildas struggled for fluidity amid the damp conditions.

“It was a pretty bitty game, if you want to use a really bland term. We didn’t get into any clear rhythm, preparation of our control,” Montemurro said post-game.

“But expected,there was always going to be some broken continuity during a camp of this nature, because of the nature of what we’re trying to achieve, in terms of trying to identify and look at combinations, players coming through.

“The tempo has been quite high at training, so we expected, probably there would be a little bit of a flat spot in the camp and today showed.”

The game was not even a minute old when Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey was forced off with a suspected torn ACL after reaching for a cross, quietening the initial lively atmosphere.

The Matildas were pass-happy in the first half as they clocked up more than 60 per cent of the ball in the opening 45, but failed to convert their possessional dominance into scoring opportunities.

In the face of some bruising defence and physical attention from Panama, the pace of Hayley Raso and Holly McNamara looked like Australia’s best avenue to goal.

Natasha Prior was a figure of calm in the Matildas backline and helped keep the scores level when she blocked the dangerous Riley Tanner’s shot following a turnover.

McNamara was responsible for the hosts’ best opportunity of the opening 45 when she drove past Carina Baltrip-Reyes on the byline and her low cross was deflected just out of the stride of Emily Gielnik.

The cards came thick and fast late in the first half as Raso, Wendy Natis and Deysire Salazar all found their way into the referee’s book, while Tanner’s shot just before half-time was denied only by the woodwork.

But the visitors did take the lead just before the hour mark when the impressive Marta Cox saw her shot off a quick transition parried by Teagan Micah, but King dispatched the rebound.

Australia almost equalised immediately when Alex Chidiac’s shot squirmed past substitute goalkeeper Isabella Morey, only for Hilary Jaen to clear off the line.

Panama were able to continue to keep the Matildas at bay throughout the second half, but still looked dangerous when they did roam forward.

Montemurro gave international debuts to Adriana Taranto and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, and the pair combined well in the 79th minute when the latter linked up with the former, who saw her shot well saved by Morey.

A couple of late corners provided two late hopeful chances for an equaliser to Prior and Galabadaarachchi, before an off-balance Heyman punched a loose ball over the bar from yards out deep in injury-time.