Australia v Argentina: Cup of Nations – live!

45 + 2 min: It’s another terrific ball in from Gielnik, but her cross eludes those in gold in the centre. They finish with some controlled possession, the Matildas, and there’s the whistle.

Far from their best first half of the tournament, but in terms of effectiveness from the set piece, Australia find themselves comfortably in control.

44 min: Harrison with some South American flair of her own, sparking a sharp counter-attack with a clever nutmeg. She picks out Kerr, who finds Chidiac and the Matildas spring forward. Argentina do enough defensively, to the chagrin of the home crowd.

42 min: Ball in the net! Oh my. Jaimes appears to have been robbed on this one! It’s a marginal call for offside, but did the ball come off a Matilda last?

She lobs Williams brilliantly, and instinctively, but the linesman says no dice.

A shame for the visitors – they’ve definitely deserved something from this half.

39 min: Brilliant defensive work from Jaimes, no wonder Lyon – one of the best club sides in the world – came knocking for her signature. She nudges Catley off the ball like she was breeze, and then flicks the ball through another Matilda before earning a freekick. What a joy to watch.

35 min: It’s a second yellow for a woman in yellow. Just off the bench, it’s Gema Simon channelling Matt Simon with a rugged tackle and follow through on her opposite winger.

A very obvious work on for the Argentine coaching staff – if you were looking at this first third of the game holistically you’d say they’ve been 50-50 in this; but they trail by two.

Nice work from Harrison who clips a terrific long ball over the defence to find Sydney FC teammate Foord, but the South Americans scramble well.

32 min: It’s impressive work from Banini, she wears the No 10, which comes with a fair bit of expectation in Argentina – and so far the Levante midfielder appears to be wearing it with aplomb.

Ay, ay, ay. It’s Australia’s first attack in about ten minutes, and after weathering some promising attacks, they’ve opened up the Argentine defence with ease.

Disappointing defending from the South Americans – two set pieces, two goals.

30 min: A dangerous freekick as well, and Williams comes to punch clear, but it falls to an Argentine. It’s a first-time volley from the right back Barroso, but she gets her angles wrong. It was a difficult chance, but they’re enjoying a few half-chances, the visitors.

28 min: It’s been a decent patch this for Argentina. They did look very positive against South Korea throughout the first half, before falling away to concede four.

Kennedy and Jaimes continue their acquaintance, and it’s the lanky centre back who picks up a yellow for a raised hand in the face of the Argentine.

25 min: Eek. Bonsegundo gets behind the Matildas backline far too easily – Allen the guilty party at right back, but the shot is taken first time, and she blazes well wide.

It is a concern for Australia, who are playing with such a high line throughout this tournament.

22 min: Ach. It’s bad news for Alleway, who does succumb to that injury, meaning an early shuffle for Milicic. Catley moves across to centre back, with Gema Simon coming on to play left back. Big opportunity for the Jets utility player. Could really press her case here today.

Bit of niggle from Larroquette, who pushes one of the Matildas players off the ball after some confusion over a freekick.

19 min: Jaimes continues to work hard up front, Kennedy and Alleway will know they’ve been in a scrap after this one. Chidiac and KK combine for a one-two; there’s some decent movement and rotations happening today for the Matildas.

Banini tries her hand with a lofted effort from just outside the box, but it’s rare unclean hands from Williams, who can only parry the effort – but dives well at the feet of Jaimes to prevent an equaliser! A wee scare, that – for the Tildas.

16 min: Alleway is back on, and plays calmly out from the back, Kellond-Knight (aka KK) receives, her usual metronomic self, facing forward and distributing swiftly to build an attack.

After that perhaps overawed start, Argentina are coming into the contest physically – with a few “lusty” challenges going in across the field. Matildas won’t mind that.

13 min: Ooh. Gielnik with a terrific whipped ball from wide that’s only marginally evaded captain Kerr. She’s had such an impressive season with the Victory, the wide forward, but her delivery – both from set piece and during the game – has been a real noted improvement. Such power and swerve – could that be a feature in France?

11 min: Really impressive workrate from the Matildas so far, as Harrison and Kellond-Knight harry their midfield opponents brilliantly, with Gielnik also dropping deep to deny the Argentine ball-players the time and space to play forward.

A slight injury concern for Laura Alleway; she’s off the pitch briefly receiving treatment.

9 min: A nervy start, you’d have to say for the visitors, but an offside call provides the chance for a breather and a chance to get up the other end. An opportunity to cross into the box but Bonsegundo can’t find the right final delivery.

6 min: Ooph. This could be fingers in the dam territory already for Argentina, as Chidiac lines up a terrific curling shot from outside the box. Correa does brilliantly to get across and tip that behind – it was arrowing for the bottom corner.

Fine strike, Chidiac – her first touch created the space, her second was struck brilliantly goalwards.

4 min: Ay, ay. We mentioned the Correa v Kerr battle, and at first testing, it’s the Matildas talisman who gets the jump!

A second corner, again earned by Foord, Australia goes near post from Gielnik, and it’s a clever run towards the near-post from Kerr who sneaks in on the blindside and just beats the ‘keeper to the ball.

Headed goal, cool as you like – and that’s a goal in every game since getting the skipper’s armband. Lovely from Kerr, Argentina caught napping.

3 min: Ball in the net! It’s a terrific lifted ball over the top to the dangerous No 9 Jaimes, who volleys side-foot past Lydia Williams; but the linesman’s flag was quickly into action, and replays suggesting correctly.

Imagine that for a start!

2 min: The visitors are sitting deep but there’s been no drop in intensity from the Matildas. Swarming numbers in midfield turn the ball over and as Caitlin Foord sets off on a run the defence scrambles well.

First corner of the game, but they deal with it comfortably, Argentina.

1 min: It’s Argentina who get us going, in one of the most iconic strips of world football, the white-and-blue vertical stripes, Australia in the traditional gold and green.

The players have made their way out onto the pitch, so we’re not a million miles away from kickoff.

Irrespective of the result today, how refreshing is it that during this tournament the attention has turned back to football, on the field, and people talking about these remarkable athletes, not any off-field ructions surrounding them.

I think this billboard captures that pretty nicely.

From an Argentine perspective, all eyes will be on No 9 Sole Jaimes, who’s been a standout performer for the Albicelestes. Eight of the squad are based in Spain, so despite being a reasonably young collective are growing in experience. Goalkeeper Vanina Correa had a second half to forget against a strong-finishing Korea on matchday one, so she’ll look no doubt to be at her very best with one of the world’s best strikers in Sam Kerr bearing down on her.

The players have been out on the pitch at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, or AAMI Park (different folks, different strokes), and warm ups appear to have been conducted without incident. It’s a decent crowd trickling in, so hopefully home support will buoy some of the younger Matildas.

One player I’ll be watching closely is the midfielder Chidiac – she is of course on the books of Atlético Madrid over in Spain, so plenty of her opponents will know her game, having faced her domestically. They were the runaway leaders of the Primera División (ahead even of Barcelona), so a fun game-within-a-game to watch, that one.

Afternoon/evening/morning all! To you and yours, from wherever you’re following our Cup of Nations coverage. It’s been a positive first two hit outs for the Matildas, especially for a few so-called fringe players. Emily Gielnik is one who’s impressed hugely in her two matches, and she’s been rewarded with another start in what is, once again, a much-changed line up from matchday two.

So – to team news:

Lydia Williams returns between the posts and after being rested for “soreness”, Alanna Kennedy is back to marshall the backline. No Ellie Carpenter, so Teigen Allen get a chance to impress from right back. Elise Kellond-Knight will screen the back four, but it’s the young heads of Alex Chidiac and Amy Harrison who get a huge chance to impress, selected ahead of Tameka Butt and Emily van Egmond.

Sam Kerr will once again lead the line, with Caitlin Foord coming in to press her claims after what’s been, in fairness, a relatively quiet tournament for the Sydney FC flyer.