Caitlin Foord Scores 150th Goal as Matildas Bounce Back
The Matildas did not dwell on defeat for long.
Beaten 1-0 by Mexico on home soil on Saturday, with Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord both starting, Australia were stung. Catley called it “disappointing” and reminded everyone that this was “the very start of a journey towards the World Cup.” Four days later, that journey already looked a little sharper.
On Tuesday, Australia returned the favour with a 3-1 win over the same opponents, a result that felt as much about statement as scoreline.
Foord’s landmark night
This was Foord’s night as much as it was Australia’s. Handed the captain’s armband and making her 150th appearance for her country, she played like someone determined to etch the occasion into the record books.
She did exactly that.
For Australia’s third goal of the evening, Foord showed the kind of authority that comes with experience and confidence. She rolled her defender with sheer strength, carved out a yard of space and slid the ball inside the far post with precision. A captain’s finish, on a landmark night.
That strike moved her into rarefied company: Foord now sits as the joint-third highest goalscorer in Australia’s history with 41 goals. Catley, again a constant presence, completed the full 90 minutes as the Matildas closed out a satisfying response to Saturday’s setback.
Afterwards, Foord reflected on a week heavy with milestones. “To reach 100 is obviously huge, and for myself, 150 as well,” she said. “It’s nice to enjoy these moments together, and celebrate them, which we have during this series.”
Lionesses win, but route to World Cup gets longer
While Australia were busy correcting course in friendlies, England were grinding through the serious business of World Cup qualifying.
At Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Lionesses beat Ukraine 3-0, a controlled win that restored some rhythm but not quite enough reward. Alessia Russo led the line for the full 90 minutes, Chloe Kelly entered the fray in the 64th minute, and Lotte Wubben-Moy watched on as an unused substitute.
Russo left her mark with a sharp contribution, laying on England’s second goal for Georgia Stanway. The forward’s assist underlined her growing influence in Sarina Wiegman’s side, her movement and timing unsettling Ukraine’s back line.
The result pushed England to 15 points in Group C. It still wasn’t enough. Level on points with Spain but behind on goal difference, the Lionesses finished second and missed out on automatic qualification. The path now runs through the play-offs in October.
Russo did not hide the mixed emotions. “It’s nice to come back to England, play in front of all of our fans and get a win,” she said. “We also wanted to qualify automatically for the World Cup but now we’re going to the play-offs and that’s tough but it’s football. We had the toughest group playing Spain and we won five out of six games and have still not gone through.”
The job is not done. It has simply become more complicated.
Spain cruise, Sweden claw back
Spain, by contrast, made sure there was no drama. Mariona Caldentey played the first half of a ruthless 6-1 win away to Iceland on Tuesday, a performance that piled on the goal difference and sealed their place at the World Cup with authority. While others wrestled with permutations, Spain simply blew the door off its hinges.
Sweden’s route will also run through the play-offs, but their final group outing at least showed some fight. At home to Italy, they trailed 2-0 yet refused to fold, hauling themselves back to 2-2 in a spirited comeback. Smilla Holmberg and Stina Blackstenius both played the full 90 minutes as Sweden finished third in Group A with eight points from six games. Not the position they wanted, but not a team lacking character.
North American tests and youth minutes
Across the Atlantic, the international window brought different kinds of tests.
Emily Fox logged heavy minutes in a pair of friendlies for USA against Brazil. She played the full 90 in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away to Brazil, then started again on Wednesday, this time featuring for the first half of a 1-0 win on Brazilian soil. A loss, then a clean-sheet response: a useful gauge against elite opposition.
Canada, meanwhile, enjoyed a far more comfortable evening. Olivia Smith started and played 63 minutes as Canada dismantled Costa Rica 6-0 away from home in a friendly on Wednesday, a dominant outing that allowed the visitors to stretch their legs and their squad.
At under-23 level, Anneke Borbe added another step to her development. The goalkeeper came on at half-time in Germany’s 2-2 friendly draw at home to Denmark on Monday, valuable minutes in a tight contest.
From Foord’s milestone in green and gold to the Lionesses’ looming play-offs, this international window left its mark. The celebrations are real, the warning lights just as clear. The World Cup is getting closer. Who will be ready when the next whistle blows?
