Australia win Cup of Nations with 3-0 victory over Argentina

Australia win Cup of Nations with 3-0 victory over Argentina

First-half strikes by Sam Kerr and Alanna Kennedy plus a late penalty from Caitlin Foord seal a comfortable win in Melbourne against Argentina.

The Matildas win the inaugural Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Argentina. (Twitter pic)
BENGALURU:
Goals from captain Sam Kerr, defender Alanna Kennedy and forward Caitlin Foord helped Australia beat Argentina 3-0 and win the inaugural Cup of Nations in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Striker Kerr gave Australia the lead in the fourth minute, darting into the box to head in from a corner before Kennedy scored in similar fashion to put the Matildas 2-0 up.

Australia wasted a number of chances in the second half before scoring their third in added time when Foord converted a penalty to hand 36th-ranked Argentina their third defeat in as many matches in the four-team tournament.

Australia, coached by Ante Milicic and ranked sixth in the world, are grouped with Italy, Brazil and Jamaica in this year’s World Cup in France.

They play a friendly with defending world champions the United States next month in their final warm-up for the Jun 7-Jul 7 tournament.

Earlier, Ji So-yun and Moon Mi-ra scored for 14th-ranked South Korea, who beat New Zealand 2-0 to finish as runners-up with six points from three games.

Chelsea midfielder Ji unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area in the 74th minute to claim her fourth goal of the tournament before fellow substitute Moon doubled the lead.

New Zealand finished third in the standings with three points ahead of Argentina.

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