Unbeaten Matildas defeat Jamaica 3-0 to claim Cup of Nations

The Matildas will be hoping more silverware is on its way this year after capping an undefeated Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 win over Jamaica.

Katrina Gorry got the first-half breakthrough for Tony Gustavsson’s side in Newcastle before goals to Alex Chidiac and Caitlin Foord assured them of a seventh straight victory.

Gustavsson wanted to use this friendly tournament as a dress rehearsal for the intensity of successive World Cup games later this year and, on results alone, his side passed with flying colours.

Three wins and 10 goals across this tournament suggest as much, but Australia were sluggish to start on Wednesday in front of 9093 fans at McDonald Jones Stadium.

“We have had a real tournament feeling, so in that sense it’s been phenomenal for us,” Gustavsson said.

“I want to be emotionally distanced from it … but we’ve learned to win.

“Tournament football is about grinding through and believing in what you’re doing .

“The players stayed loyal to the plan that we had and grew into the game.”

Sunday’s 3-2 win over Spain clearly took its toll on a squad that had been afforded little rotation.

The Swede stuck solid with the 4-4-2 formation that has led to the upturn in form for his side, whose next assignment is an away trip to European champions England in April.

Gustavsson had only made two changes to his starting XI with Courtney Nevin at right back for Charlotte Grant and the injured Hayley Raso vacating her right wing spot for Larissa Crummer.