The Matildas have marked their return to Melbourne with a 4-0 win over world no. 2 Sweden at AAMI Park.

Two goals to former NSWIS scholarship holder Caitlin Foord, as well as goals to Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler led to victory in front of 22,065 ecstatic fans in the Matildas biggest ever-win against a top 5 nation and their second ever over the Swedes.

Australia looked threatening from the beginning of the game and the best early chance came from a counter with Kyra Cooney-Cross breaking away and earning a corner. Captain Sam Kerr headed wide from the resulting corner.

In these early exchanges Sweden looked dangerous in transition with Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd hitting the post, Madelen Janogy had a sight on goal that she skied over the bar, and Clare Polkinghorne was forced to clear the ball off the Australian goal line in the 19th minute.

However, the Matildas were the ones to take their chance in the half as storming run from winger Hayley Raso resulted in Sam Kerr prodding home in the 37th minute to open the scoring.

The home side took the 1-0 lead into halftime and made the most of the advantage in the second stanza.

Not long into the second half, Katrina Gorry blocked a shot from a Sweden corner. It came out to Halyey, who executed a backheel touch to put Kyra into open space. This time she was able to find Caitlin Foord.

Just outside of the penalty area, Caitlin cut inside onto her dominant right foot and blasted a powerful shot past Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.

Australia poured on the pressure and not long after Hayley shot wide on the counter. A third could’ve been added in the 70th minute from a corner.  Sam nodded onto Hayley at the back post, but she was unable to position her body to steer the shot on target.

Mary Fowler’s introduction onto the pitch in the 64th minute had an impact. In the 73rd minute, the attacking midfielder added a third to the Australian lead, firing a deflected shot into the back of the net after Sam found some space on the break.

Caitlin secured the result less than five minutes later, scoring her brace in the 77th minute. Substitute Emily van Egmond set up the goal with a neat assist to result in a comprehensive victory.

Sweden became the highest-ranked nation the Matildas have defeated since the United States in 2017.

The Matildas will complete their 2022 match schedule against Thailand on Tuesday, 15 November at Central Coast Stadium with kick off at 7.45pm AEDT.

Article courtesy of Football Australia

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