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AAP
AAP
Sport
Anna Harrington

Foord inspires Matildas to Sweden thumping

Caitlin Foord (9) celebrates after scoring Australia's second goal in the 4-0 win over Sweden. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Caitlin Foord has delivered an attacking masterclass to lead the Matildas to a 4-0 thumping of world No.2 Sweden in one of the finest victories of the Tony Gustavsson era.

Arsenal star Foord scored a brilliant brace, including a wonder strike, and now has five goals in her past three internationals.

Skipper Kerr's 37th-minute toepoke, her first international goal since playing New Zealand in April and her first against a top-20 opponent since Brazil in October 2021, delivered the lead in front of 22,065 fans at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

Foord doubled Australia's lead on 51 minutes in stunning fashion which kicked off a second half rampage, and also netted in the 78th, five minutes after Mary Fowler's deflected strike.

Australia's third consecutive win is arguably the most impressive performance of the Gustavsson era bar the dramatic Olympics quarter-final win over Great Britain.

The Matildas landed their first clean sheet against a top-10 nation since the Olympics group stage 0-0 draw with the USA.

Sweden is the highest-ranked team Australia have beaten since prevailing over the USA (then ranked No.1) in 2017.

It is Gustavsson's first win with the Matildas against his native Sweden after losing 1-0 in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final and 4-2 in the tournament's group stage, plus drawing 0-0 in a June 2021 friendly.

Midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross was superb while centre-back Steph Catley was strong throughout.

Australia were lively early before Sweden cranked up the heat.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd hit the near post in the 12th minute, Madelen Janogy shot over the bar in the 17th while Australia's 150-gamer Clare Polkinghorne cleared off the line shortly after.

Australia broke through when Foord shrugged off a defender just past the 18-yard box and found Hayley Raso on the left.

Raso's left-footed cross was met brilliantly by a sliding Kerr, who stabbed home.

Six minutes into the second half, Cooney-Cross drove forward and picked out Foord.

Foord jinked around Elin Rubensson and ripped a tremendous strike which Zecira Musovic got a hand to but couldn't stop.

Australia made it 3-0 when Katrina Gorry pulled off a wonderful cross-field ball from midfield to find Kerr, who cut back for substitute Fowler.

The 19-year-old's shot deflected off Sweden skipper Linda Sembrant and wrongfooted Musovic.

Three minutes later, Foord picked up Courtney Nevin's throw-in, found Kerr and kept running.

Kerr picked out another sub in Emily van Egmond, who slid the ball through for Foord to complete the rout.

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