Chloe Logarzo: 'That's the Australian mentality I guess. We like a fight'
Midfielder Chloe Logarzo gave a player of the match performance to help bury Brazil at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Friday morning (AEST) and then put the Matildas’ memorable comeback down to pure Australian fighting spirit.
Ante Milicic’s side looked dead and buried 38 minutes into their second Group C tie in France, after falling 2-0 down to the counter-attacking Brazilians through goals from superstar Marta and Cristiane.
But a Caitlin Foord strike – from a Logarzo assist – just before the break gave Australia a lifeline, and the 24-year-old Sydney FC midfielder then fired her team level with a cross-cum-shot from outside the box on 58 minutes.
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The Matildas' magical Montpellier comeback was complete eight minutes later when Brazil defender Monica headed into her own net as Tameka Yallop aimed a cross at captain Sam Kerr.
“Unbelievable, I’m on cloud nine. It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Logarzo, who was voted the FIFA Player of the Match, said after the game.
“The confidence we had in ourselves, and the confidence Ante [Milicic] has instilled in us is incredible.
“I never doubted us for a second, even being 2-0 down.
“You’ve got to love Ante. He said [at half-time] ‘when you’ve got your back against the wall you come out swinging’.
That’s the Australian mentality, we like a fight I guess.”
The final whistle brought jubilant scenes from Australia’s players and fans, with Logarzo dedicating her equalising strike to injured team-mate Laura Alleway who was last week replaced in the squad by Canberra United's Karly Roestbakken.
“My goal celebration was for Laura Alleway – I hope she really likes it. She always there with us, she’s [written in a message] on my wrist,” Logarzo said.
“We’ll never leave a player behind.”
World Cup France 2019™ – Group C – Australia Matches
Jamaica v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Kick-off: 5.00am AEST (9.00pm local time, Tuesday 18 June)
Click below to #GetOnside for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ in Australia