SYDNEY — Australia won the Cup of Nations with their 3-2 win over Spain securing the Matildas the silverware after a three-goal first half for the 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosts preceded a late rally from La Roja.
Cortnee Vine‘s opening goal was a stunner. Hayley Raso‘s ball across the top of the box found Vine, whose sweet first-time hit left goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez diving but unable to stop it.
Clare Polkinghorne continues to moonlight as a striker as she added a second goal to the scoresheet and goal No. 16 to her own international tally. Sam Kerr could only muster a looping header following Raso’s cross but Polkinghorne was in the right place — aided by a favourable bounce — to finish from an acute angle.
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Caitlin Foord, on her return to the starting lineup, made it three by ghosting between the Spanish defenders to head home from a Steph Catley set piece — one of the Matildas most valuable attacking weapons.
The away side dominated the second half, creating wave after wave of attack, obviously building to some sort of end product. Some of their best chances came through the likes of Alba Redondo, Esther Gonzalez and Olga Carmona with Mackenzie Arnold being called on to make some super saves. But the Aussie shot-stopper…
