Mexico have defied world rankings to hand the World Cup-bound Matildas a shock 1-0 loss on home soil.
A disjointed Matildas side had fluffed their lines in front of goal at McDonald Jones Stadium, with Alice Soto threading the ball beautifully to help Diana Ordóñez nab the match-winner in added time.
World rankings would have suggested victory was a lock for a full-strength Matildas outfit, with coach Joe Montemurro welcoming Steph Catley, Emily van Egmond, Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter back to the starting line-up for the 15th-ranked side on Saturday.
But none of Australia's established stars could find the match-winner from 19 total shots at goal to world No.28 Mexico's 12 in front of 23,167 fans.
It was the Matildas' first game on home soil since their 1-0 Asian Cup final loss to Japan in March, having pulled off a clean sweep of their FIFA Series matches against Malawi and Kenya in April.
The last time Australia played Mexico, the Matildas nabbed a 2-0 friendly win in the US.
Two years on since their last meeting, Mexico took their chances when it mattered most.
The visitors nearly drew first blood early in the second half when Matildas star Carpenter -- wearing the captain's armband in her 100th match -- cheaply gave away possession in the corridor.
Mexican winger Angelique Saldivar broke from the pack and showed her quality by outpacing Matildas defensive trio of Catley, Kaitlyn Torpey and Winonah Heatley.
To the relief of the home side, 19-year-old Saldivar missed her target and sent the ball wide of the right post.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr was busy as usual, but lacked polish in attack.
Caitlin Foord was at the source of Australia's best first-half chance, keeping her feet as she pushed through Mexican opponents Reyna Reyes and Nancy Antonio to reach Kerr.
Kerr set up Amy Sayer in the 30th minute, but the ball hit the post before Kerr was ruled to be offside.
Sayer couldn't connect with a cutback from Carpenter in the 44th minute, with Torpey failing to salvage the crumbs with a misfired kick over the crossbar.
Mexico matched Australia's five first-half shots at goal and beat the home side with two on target to none.
A defender with Boston Legacy FC in the NWSL, Nicolette Hernandez was a threat with her left boot and forced a save out of goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold in the 14th minute, before setting up a flurry of chances.
Australia, having secured direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup after finishing as Asian Cup runners-up, face Mexico again at Parramatta's CommBank Stadium on Tuesday.