Matildas beaten in Portugal playoff

THE Matildas have ended a mixed Algarve Cup campaign with a whimper, falling 2-1 to Portugal in their third-place playoff.

Australia couldn’t do it on a wet, windy Wednesday in Albufeira, lacking their usual panache and missing a penalty to finish fourth in the invitational tournament and hand the world No.38 host nation its highest finish.

Caitlin Cooper coughed up Australia’s first goal before netting the equaliser in firsthalf stoppage time.

But, in the end, Vanessa Marques’ crackling long-range strike settled the sides’ second meeting in five days after Saturday’s 0-0 draw.

Having topped their group but fallen short of the final on goal difference, Australia went out to recreate the energy of last week’s thrilling 4-3 opening win over Norway.

As promised, coach Alen Stajcic made mass changes from Tuesday’s 2-0 win over China, rotating seven of his starting XI to share around the minutes before next month’s World Cup qualifiers in Jordan.

Stajcic brought on Sam Kerr in search of another equaliser and they were handed a slice of luck when Silvia Rebelo brought the star down in the box.

Yet even the penalty didn’t play in the Matildas’ favour, and Emily van Egmond’s spot kick was capably saved by 18year-old goalkeeper Ines Pereira.