Westfield Matildas clinch Cup of Nations after Argentina win

Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy and Caitlin Foord were on target as the Westfield Matildas sealed the inaugural Cup of Nations trophy with a 3-0 win over Argentina.

Kerr buried a fifth minute header and Kennedy nodded in one of her own on the half hour mark to help Ante Milicic’s side establish an unassailable buffer over the spirited South Americans.

Foord then added gloss to the score line with a neatly dispatched penalty in the final minute of injury time.

Australia will now enter April’s pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup training camp in America with wind in their sails having clinched three victories from three on home soil.

This one in Victoria was sparked early on when Kerr snuck in front of Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa and planted Emily Gielnik’s corner in at the near post.

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But the Westfield Matildas had to survive a strong response from the Argentines.

Lydia Williams was required to make two strong punches, while Kennedy’s ongoing physical battle with striker Soledad Jaimes took its toll on the AAMI Park surface.

However, the visitors were outdone by another set-piece and it was the Sydney FC defender Kennedy who doubled Australia’s lead with a free header past Correa.

Jaimes continued to threaten after the interval and only a sensational last-ditch challenge from Steph Catley denied the Olympique Lyonnais striker from pulling the trigger in a prime position.

Argentina perhaps unfairly finish the tournament goal-less, while Foord avoided that fate when she tucked home a penalty in stoppage time after Catley was felled in the box.