The Matildas will likely be hoping extra silverware is on its means this 12 months after capping an undefeated Cup of Nations marketing campaign with a 3-Zero win over Jamaica.
Katrina Gorry obtained the first-half breakthrough for Tony Gustavsson’s aspect in Newcastle earlier than objectives to Alex Chidiac and Caitlin Foord assured them of a seventh straight victory.
Gustavsson needed to make use of this pleasant match as a costume rehearsal for the depth of successive World Cup video games later this 12 months and, on outcomes alone, his aspect handed with flying colours.
Three wins and 10 objectives throughout this match recommend as a lot, however Australia had been sluggish to start out on Wednesday in entrance of 9093 followers at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“We’ve got had an actual match feeling, so in that sense it has been phenomenal for us,” Gustavsson mentioned.
“I need to be emotionally distanced from it… however we have discovered to win.
“Match soccer is about grinding by means of and believing in what you are doing.”
“The gamers stayed loyal to the plan that we had and grew into the sport.”
Sunday’s 3-2 win over Spain clearly took its toll on a squad that had been afforded little rotation.
The Swede caught strong with the 4-4-2 formation that has led to the upturn in kind for his aspect, whose subsequent task is an away journey to European champions England in April.
Gustavsson had solely made two adjustments to his beginning XI with Courtney Nevin at proper again for Charlotte Grant and the injured Hayley Raso vacating her proper wing spot for Larissa Crummer.
Australia struggled to dictate the tempo and will depend themselves fortunate to not go a purpose down as a result of some enterprising play from Jamaica’s Kayla McKenna.
Gorry’s opener within the 27th minute proved to settle the nerves, the midfielder receiving the ball from Foord as she dropped right into a pocket and unleashed from 25 meters out previous the powerless Becky Spencer.
There have been extra promising indicators for the Australians with Kyra Cooney-Cross and Foord threatening to increase the lead simply earlier than half-time.
However the true cattle-prod got here after the break with the introduction of Chidiac on the expense of Crummer.
The Melbourne Victory midfielder has solely seen sport time at this match from the bench however was a menace to the Jamaican protection when she got here on.
Chidiac obtained her reward quickly after her arrival, weaving her means across the six-yard field earlier than making it 2-Zero with a well-taken 56th-minute end.
The Matildas had been on a roll and their third got here when Foord and Sam Kerr confirmed some neat link-up play.
A one-two with Kerr left the Jamaican protection flat-footed and Foord was capable of hammer the ball in from the sting of the field to seal the deal.
-AAP
