Matildas escape at the death to draw with China in Adelaide - as it happened

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What did we learn from that?

That Gustavsson’s regular starting line-up is more settled than players who are either younger or less used to playing together? That he tends to make more rather than less changes in friendlies and then revert to type whenever it doesn’t go swimmingly? That Australia are still grappling with goals in the absence of Sam Kerr,and if Heyman is to be a source to replace them and Fowler is to make her magic then they need more supply?

Or are they just blowing out the cobwebs in Adelaide and they’ll be right come Monday night in Sydney?

However it pans out,hopefully Foord is okay and not injured following that tweak of some description during what ended up being a short cameo. Freier played with purpose when she came on and did not look out of place,so that’s a solid debut in the can.

Overall the Matildas did not have the better of that match. They started static and only really grew into it once Gustavsson made those five high-profile changes on the hour mark,and even then could not score until a set piece at the death.

I don’t have much more to say right now. Read Vince Rugari’s piece of analysishere. Until Monday,goodnight.

Heyman has made her case for Paris

“I want that ticket,I want to be on that plane,” she tells 10. “But for me to be there,it’s a team sport so I’m just trying to do everything I can for the team. It’s always in the back of your mind but the main focus was to get out there and do what you’re good at.

“We just want to continue to have that never-say-die attitude. It wasn’t out best performance but we stuck it out until the last minute.”

Here’s Heyman’s goal at the death.

Words from Milicic

“In the limits of time we’ve been together the girls have an excellent mentality,” the coach tells Ten. “And the discipline to follow instructions was great. it just got a bit too much for us at the end when Australia made those subs.”

Milicic was impressed with the way China played on the counter.

“I was and we knew that would be our best avenue tonight,” he says. “We had a few good opportunities on the counter ... I’m not really too focused on the results,I just wanted to get a few things across to the girls and see if they could follow instructions. It’s too different teams at two different steps of their cycles.”

Full-time! Australia 1-1 China

They left it late,and it took a bit of a calamity from China’s goalkeeper for it to happen. She slipped over as she ran to the edge of the box to collect the ball and spilled it outside the box. Australia were awarded a free-kick in what could well be the final minutes of injury-time. Fowler and Catley stand over the ball,and in the end it was Fowler who took it. She sends it hard but straight to the keeper,who spills in her attempt to take it. The ball ricochets into the path of Heyman,and the striker just doesn’t miss chances like those.

Heyman equalises for Matildas!

Australia 1-1 China after 90+5 minutes

There will be five minutes of added time

Great turn from Raso but just as she looks up to release Carpenter but is stopped in her tracks. China pounce on the counter then,cutting a swathe through the middle of the park as Wu Chengshu gets away clear into space and Catley has to track out of position to try and catch her. In the end,she gets away a shot that Arnold scoops up.

Australia 0-1 China after 90+3 minutes

It’s happened:Alanna Kennedy is a No.9

Gustavsson’s favourite Plan F.

More subs for China

Mengwen Li is off for Mengyu Shen,Shuang Wang Shuang for Cong Yuan and Yanwen Wang for Jiali Tang.

Australia 0-1 China after 87 minutes

Official attendance is 52,912

ByVince Rugari

The crowd has definitely livened up here at Adelaide Oval now that the big guns are on - well,minus Caitlin Foord,obviously,now - and the Matildas are on the front foot. The official attendance figure here tonight is 52,912,which is 96 short of the all-time record for soccer in South Australia set in 2015,when Liverpool met Adelaide United in a friendly. Those here tonight haven’t quite got what they came for,but the Matildas are finishing strong so they may yet see a goal. In the correct net,that is.

Australia 0-1 China after 86 minutes

Another chance goes begging

Heyman looks for Raso on the right as she darts towards the box from the left. Raso is alert to the plan but the ball reaches China’s goalkeeper before the winger can get to it.

Australia 0-1 China after 84 minutes

Emma Kemp is a senior sports reporter.

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