Caitlin Foord's Landmark Night in Matildas' Victory

Caitlin Foord hit a landmark and landed a punch back.

Four days after a flat 1-0 defeat to Mexico in Melbourne, the Matildas reset, reloaded and tore into the same opponents, running out 3-1 winners on Tuesday in a performance that felt far more in tune with their World Cup ambitions.

Foord’s night to remember

Foord wore the captain’s armband, marked her 150th cap and climbed another rung in Australian football history – all in one night. Her goal, Australia’s third, summed up her international career in a few seconds: power, poise and a ruthless finish.

With her back to goal, she rolled her defender with sheer strength, created half a yard and slid the ball inside the far post. No fuss, no hesitation. Just a captain making sure the job was done.

That strike took her to 41 goals for her country, moving her into a share of third place on Australia’s all-time scoring list. On an evening built around response and resilience, it was fitting that Foord provided the exclamation mark.

Afterwards, she allowed herself a brief look at the bigger picture.

“To reach 100 is obviously huge, and for myself, 150 as well,” she said, reflecting on the dual milestones for herself and Steph Catley. “It’s nice to enjoy these moments together, and celebrate them, which we have during this series.”

Catley, who had called Saturday’s defeat “disappointing” but framed it as the “very start of a journey towards the World Cup”, again went the distance, anchoring the back line for the full 90 minutes as Australia’s response carried far more control and edge.

The mood around the Matildas shifted in four days: from frustration to a sense of a plan slowly taking shape.

Lionesses win, but face play-off road

Across the world in World Cup qualifying, England took care of their own immediate business, but not their destiny.

At Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Lionesses brushed aside Ukraine 3-0 to get back to winning ways, with Alessia Russo central to the performance. The forward played the full match and teed up Georgia Stanway for England’s second, a sharp assist that underlined her growing influence in Sarina Wiegman’s attack.

Chloe Kelly entered the fray on 64 minutes, adding fresh legs and direct running on the flank, while Lotte Wubben-Moy remained an unused substitute.

The win, though, came with a sting. England finished second in Group C on 15 points, level with Spain but behind on goal difference. It means the European champions must now navigate the play-offs in October rather than booking a direct ticket to the World Cup.

“It’s nice to come back to England, play in front of all of our fans and get a win,” Russo 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.”

A strong record. No guarantee. The margins at the top level rarely forgive a single slip.

Spain cruise, Sweden claw back

Spain, the side that edged England on goal difference, did their part with ruthless efficiency. Mariona Caldentey played the first half of a commanding 6-1 win away to Iceland on Tuesday, a result that swelled the goal difference and sealed qualification with style.

Spain didn’t just get over the line; they sprinted across it.

Sweden, by contrast, were dragged into drama. At home to Italy, they trailed 2-0 before summoning a spirited comeback to draw 2-2. Smilla Holmberg and Stina Blackstenius both played the full 90 minutes as Sweden fought back to finish third in Group A with eight points from six games.

No late twist in the table, though. Like England, they now head for the play-offs, knowing that one misstep could undo months of work.

North American tests and youth minutes

On the other side of the Atlantic, the United States and Canada continued their preparations in friendlies.

Emily Fox put in a heavy shift for USA against Brazil, playing 90 minutes in a 2-1 defeat on Saturday and then starting again in the return fixture on Wednesday, this time featuring for the first half of a 1-0 win away to the same opponents. Two tight games, two different outcomes, and valuable minutes banked for a key defensive presence.

Canada, meanwhile, enjoyed a far more comfortable outing. Olivia Smith played 63 minutes in a thumping 6-0 win over Costa Rica on Wednesday, a result that underlined the depth and attacking punch in the Canadian ranks as they continue to build towards major tournaments.

At under-23 level, Germany added their own small chapter to the international window. Anneke Borbe came on at half-time in a 2-2 friendly draw at home to Denmark on Monday, another young player nudging her way into the senior conversation.

From Melbourne to Merseyside, Reykjavik to Rio, this international break offered a familiar mix: milestones, missed chances, and the looming tension of play-offs that will decide who actually reaches the World Cup stage.