Top five Westfield Matildas moments of 2018: Commanding response to Chile setback

The Westfield Matildas may have fallen just short at AFC Women's Asian Cup 2018 but the year was a profitable one for Alen Stajcic's side who will enter 2019 quietly hopeful of winning the biggest prize in women's football.

Australia lost that AFC Women's Asian Cup decider to Japan but, in reaching the last four, booked their spot at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

And the form that the Westfield Matildas displayed during the year means they are every chance of having a major influence in France next year.

We're getting in the mood for a landmark year with a look back on the best of 2018, concluding with perhaps the team's strongest showing of the past 12 months.

REWIND: The last time the Westfield Matildas played in Brisbane
REVIEW: Westfield Matildas get among the goals in Westfield W-League

Westfield Matildas bounce back in Newcastle

The Westfield Matildas showed the resilience that flows through Stajcic’s squad with a 5-0 demolition job of Chile in November in Newcastle.

Just three days earlier, a big crowd in Penrith saw the South American nation upset Australia and win 3-2.

A strong response was expected and that is what the Westfield Matildas delivered, scoring all five goals in a stunning 36-minute period in the second half.

Caitlin Foord was the chief destroyer, scoring a hat-trick and setting up one, while Kerr and Emily Gielnik added goals of their own.