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Enjoying a move to the wing, Mary Fowler believes she’s only scratching the surface of her national team potential after helping the Matildas to a 2-0 win over South Korea in Newcastle.
After igniting Australia off the bench in Sydney last Friday, Fowler returned to the starting line-up at McDonald Jones Stadium and recaptured her dangerous best against the world No.19 outfit on Monday night.
Fowler steals the show
The 22-year-old star outworked four South Korean defenders in the box to slot the 44th-minute opener before sparking Kaitlyn Torpey’s goal in front of a record 28,019-strong crowd.
Fowler had plucked the ball off Lim Seon-joo and crossed to substitute Caitlin Foord — cleared of suffering a nose fracture after a head clash in Friday’s match at Allianz Stadium — in the 63rd minute.
It was a move to the left wing — the same role at her club side Manchester City — that helped Fowler spark her side.
South Korea almost hit the scoreboard when Ko Yoo-Jin’s header crossed the line in the 86th minute, but the debutant was found to be offside.
Praises from Sermanni
Tom Sermanni, whose future as Matildas caretaker boss remains unclear, could only praise the young star.
“I thought tonight was the most involved I’ve seen her in the game since I’ve been the coach,” Sermanni said.
“You see how valuable a player she is when she actually gets on the ball.”
Kennedy and Yallop collide
Alanna Kennedy looked worse off after a collision with teammate Tameka Yallop minutes later.
Kennedy had extensive bruising and swelling around her right cheek and Yallop walked gingerly with a knee complaint, but both veterans finished the first half.
“Yallop’s OK. She’s obviously got a hard Queensland head,” Sermanni said. “And Alanna’s OK – She’s got a real sweller. She’ll probably have a shut eye tomorrow, but we don’t think she’s done any damage.”
The pair were eventually substituted in the 59th minute, replaced by Claire Hunt and Torpey.