Matildas finale

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

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

Coach Alen Stajcic made mass changes, rotating seven of his starting XI.