City stars Steph Catley, Lydia Williams, Elise Kellond-Knight and Tameka Butt were instrumental as the Westfield Matildas sealed the inaugural Cup of Nations trophy with a 3-0 win over Argentina at AAMI Park on Wednesday night.
Following wins over South Korea and New Zealand, the Matildas sealed a clean sweep of the Cup, as Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy and Caitlin Foord were on target.
Kerr’s towering header gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute, before Kennedy buried her header on the half hour mark to double the advantage. Head Coach Ante Milicic’s side continued their dominance in the second-half, as City captain Steph Catley won her side a late penalty which was finished off emphatically by Foord.
Starting at left-back, Catley moved into the heart of defence late in the first-half, as fellow Matilda Laura Alleway suffered a leg injury. After a stellar performance, the newly named vice-captain of the national team was awarded as the player of the match.
Alongside Catley, Kellond-Knight, Williams and Butt played vital roles throughout the Cup, as the national team continues their preparation for the upcoming 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
The Matildas defeated New Zealand 2-0 on Matchday 1 at Leichhardt Oval, before beating South Korea 4-1 at Suncorp Stadium and then securing the Cup with a 3-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne.
Australia will now enter April’s pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup training camp in America with winning momentum having secured three wins from three on home soil under their new Head Coach.
City defender and New Zealand Football Ferns star, Rebekah Stott, also took part in the tournament, playing a key role for her national team in the heart of defence. The Kiwis suffered a 2-0 defeat to Australia, before defeating Argentina 2-0 and then suffering a 2-0 loss to South Korea.
