Missing Kerr still helps inspire Australia to 1-0 win

SYDNEY (AP):

How much of a role Sam Kerr can physically play for Australia at the Women’s World Cup remains completely uncertain.

Even if her time on the sidelines with a calf muscle injury is extended, though, Australia’s iconic striker still has an important role to play for the tournament co-hosts after helping to inspire the Matildas to a 1-0 opening win over Ireland yesterday.

“Obviously, losing a player like Sam, probably the best player in the world, and just for her as a person, we were completely heartbroken,” said Steph Catley, who scored the 52nd-minute penalty that secured Australia’s win in front of a record crowd.

Both host nations were in action on the opening day. The Australians were expected to have too much star power against Ireland, who were on debut at the tournament. New Zealand had never won a game at the World Cup.

But the New Zealanders produced a 1-0 upset win over 1995 champions Norway in the tournament’s first match, hours after a fatal shooting in downtown Auckland shocked their nation. A minute’s silence was held before that match at Eden Park. A few hours later at Stadium Australia, a 75,784-strong crowd — a record for women’s football match in Australia — also observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect before kick-off.

A hush had gone over the crowd earlier than that when it was announced that Kerr, the highest-profile player in this part of the world, wouldn’t be starting against Ireland.

She is also set to miss Australia’s second Group B game against Nigeria next week, and there are no guarantees she will be back to take on Olympic champions Canada on July 31.

Without their captain and all-time leading scorer, Australia got over the line. Just.

Kerr has been the face of the Matildas’ bid to be crowned world champions for the first time. Without her leading the attack against Ireland, her teammates appeared short of ideas or cutting edge.

Then there was the psychological boost her absence provided Ireland, which was out to cause an upset in its first appearance at the World Cup.

Without Kerr, it was down to Catley to convert the penalty that ended Ireland’s resistance and sparked an eruption of joy from fans inside the stadium.

There was also no shortage of relief from the majority of the crowd.

Ireland had beaten Australia in the teams’ last meeting, winning 3-2 in a friendly in Dublin in 2021.