A late fightback from Spain has taken the gloss off probably the most spectacular performances of the Tony Gustavsson period because the Matildas grabbed a 3-2 Cup of Nations win.
Australia raced out to a 3-Zero half-time lead at CommBank Stadium with objectives from livewire winger Cortnee Vine, veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne and striker Caitlin Foord.
However simply as Australia was about to state its World Cup credentials with a clear sheet, Spain hit the house group with two objectives within the final 20 minutes.
The late flurry from the guests should not take away from the truth that the Matildas performed a few of their finest soccer seen underneath the Swede.
Over the previous two years of Gustavsson’s tenure, the Matildas have uncovered themselves to a number of the world’s high nations and sometimes come up brief.
However within the first half in opposition to the world No. 7 La Roja, they performed at an unrelenting tempo which the Spanish had been unable to match.
Gustavsson’s aspect, which performs its ultimate Cup of Nations fixture in opposition to Jamaica in Newcastle on Wednesday, has now gained its previous six video games.
Spain started ominously, nevertheless, making its intent recognized early because it regarded to play behind the Matildas’ line.
Twice the Australian again 4 breathed a sigh of aid that the referee’s assistant received them out of jail by flagging for offside.
However quickly the motion was down the opposite finish, Sydney FC winger Vine opened the scoring from the sting of the field with a wonderfully weighed first-time strike to offer Australia the lead.
Foord made one jinking run practically 90 seconds later which glanced simply vast, earlier than Polkinghorne made it two for the Matildas within the 16th minute.
Spain’s Marta Carro did not clear a flick-on by Sam Kerr and Polkinghorne was readily available to stab the ball residence on the again publish.
Kerr had a objective dominated out for offside however the Matildas continued to hunt for a 3rd.
This time Foord delivered as she headed an inch-perfect Steph Catley free kick previous Spanish goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez.
Australia had one other objective dominated out for offside – this time by Foord within the second half.
Spain grabbed one again within the 73rd minute by a long-range Olga Carmona effort earlier than Alba Redondo notched a second for the guests within the 90th minute.
