The Matildas will be hoping more silverware is on its way this year after capping an undefeated Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 win over Jamaica.
Katrina Gorry got the first-half breakthrough for Tony Gustavsson’s side in Newcastle before goals to Alex Chidiac and Caitlin Foord assured them of a seventh straight victory.
Gustavsson wanted to use this friendly tournament as a dress rehearsal for the intensity of successive World Cup games later this year and, on results alone, his side passed with flying colours.
Three wins and 10 goals across this tournament suggest as much, but Australia were sluggish to start on Wednesday in front of 9,093 fans at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Sunday’s 3-2 win over Spain clearly took its toll on a squad that had been afforded little rotation.
The Swede stuck solid with the 4-4-2 formation that has led to the upturn in form for his side, whose next assignment is an away trip to European champions England in April.
Gustavsson had only made two changes to his starting XI with Courtney Nevin at righback for Charlotte Grant and the injured Hayley Raso vacating her right wing spot for Larissa Crummer.
Australia struggled to dictate the tempo and could count themselves fortunate not to go a goal down due to some enterprising play from Jamaica’s Kayla McKenna.
Gorry’s opener in the 27th minute proved to settle the nerves, the midfielder receiving the ball from Foord as she dropped into a pocket and unleashed from 25 metres out past the powerless Becky Spencer.
There were more promising signs for the Australians with Kyra Cooney-Cross and Foord threatening to extend the lead just before half-time.
But the real cattle-prod came after the break with the introduction of Chidiac at the expense of Crummer.
The Melbourne Victory midfielder has only seen gametime at this tournament from the bench but was a menace to the Jamaican defence when she came on.
Chidiac got her reward soon after her arrival, weaving her way around the six-yard box before making it 2-0 with a well-taken 56th-minute finish.
The Matildas were on a roll and their third came when Foord and Sam Kerr showed some neat link-up play.
A one-two with Kerr left the Jamaican defence flatfooted and Foord was able to hammer the ball in from the edge of the box to seal the deal.
mrl
Roar Rookie
No, she wanted to go.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I think Crummer, Luik & Nevin are there in case Carpenter isnt back..if she is those 3 all at risk (Id keep Luik as she's playing well enough)
Garry
Roar Rookie
D'yer Mak'er?
chris
Guest
Prior to this tournament (and possibly the games against Sweden) those hangers on as you call them were needed. The younger players weren't stepping up. They now have stepped up and no doubt TG will cull a few of those older players following this tournament.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
There seem to be about a lot hangers on in the squad, either players who are past it, or there because they got selected ages ago for the Matildas. Yallop, Van Egmond, Liuk, Glienik. Kellod Knight they are clear past of it no more value and need to be dumped. Crummer is selected because she was selected long ago , she is neither a winger or a fullback as well. Needs to go. Nevin not good enough. Fowler was a darling of the team but that performance means she should be given only one more chance. Chidiac and Hunt are now establsihed. Another winger is needed sorely with Foord established in the center.
mrl
Roar Rookie
I took my mum there once.