The CommBank ParaMatildas faced their first defeat of their 2022 IFCPF Women's World Cup campaign, going down 4-0 to USA in their final group stage match before the Gold Medal Match tomorrow night.
Head Coach Kelly Stirton opted to change the starting five for the first time in the tournament, bringing in Rae Anderson and shifting Eloise Northam to the bench for the game against the USA.
Although both teams had already qualified for the final on Tuesday going into the match, they were both looking to finish first in the group.
Just before the midway point of the first half, the American skipper gave her side the breakthrough. Annie Wickett there for the follow up after Katelyn Smith made the initial save in Australia's goal.
Wickett doubled USA's advantage less than a minute after her first goal, finishing her shot past Smith.
Charlize Tran entered the field for her second appearance in green and gold, replacing Lainee Harrison up front. Howver, the American captain was undistrbuted by the subsiutiion and finished her hat-trick before the half time interval, sending a shot from outside the box into the back of the net.
Northam entered the game for the second half, replacing Australian skipper Georgia Beikoff who was starting to feel the effects of the CommBank ParaMatildas busy schedule, having played every minute of Australia's past three wins.
Anderson and Northam went closest to clawing a goal back for Australia, but USA flexed their muscles finding their fourth through Rebecca Ostrander.
All focus now moves to tomorrow night's Gold Medal Match, as Australia and USA battle it out for the inaugural IFCPF Women's World Cup trophy.
Watch the full-match replay below.
MATCH DETAILS
Australia 0
USA 4 (Wickett 17', 18', 25', Ostrander 35')
Referees: Hector Robas / Andrea Coca
CommBank ParaMatildas Line Up: 10. Georgia Beikoff (c) (7. Eloise Northam 26'), 6. Katelyn Smith (GK) , 3. Tahlia Blanshard, 5. Lainee Harrison (4. Charlize Tran 24'), 9. Rae Anderson (2. Nicole Christodoulou 46')
Subs not used: 1. Holly Saunders (GK), 8. Matilda Mason
Gold Medal Match
Australia v United States of America
Date: Tuesday, 17 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick-Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AEST
WATCH HERE
