Australia's Sam Kerr, center, bites on a pen as she waves after their women's friendly soccer match against Sweden in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord scored two goals Saturday to lead Australia to a 4-0 win over Sweden in an international women's soccer friendly.
Foord has five goals in her past three internationals. Skipper Sam Kerr's 37th-minute toe-poke, her first international goal since playing New Zealand in April, gave Australia the lead in front of 22,065 fans at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Foord doubled Australia's lead on 51 minutes and also netted in the 78th, five minutes after Mary Fowler's deflected strike.
Foord said the team's strategy has greatly developed over the past 12 months to better balance the team's tactics.
'œI feel like we've finally come together, found that sweet spot," Foord said. 'œWe want to be an attacking team, want to be aggressive, and we play our best when we're like that.'ť
It was the fourth meeting between the teams in less than two years. Sweden edged Australia 1-0 in the Tokyo Olympics semifinal, won a group stage match 4-2 and drew 0-0 in a pre-tournament friendly.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup
Sweden's head coach Peter Gerhardsson, right, watches his team play Australia during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Sweden's head coach Peter Gerhardsson, left, shakes hands with Australia's head coach Tony Gustavsson after their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Australia's Caitlin Foord, bottom right, celebrates with teammate Hayley Raso after scoring her second goal against Sweden during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Australia's Mary Fowler, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Sweden during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Sweden's Hanna Bennison, right, takes a corner kick against Australia during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Australia's goalkeeper Teagan Micah, right, makes a save against Sweden during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Sweden's Julia Zigiotti Olme, right, rashes for the ball in front of Australia's Mary Fowler during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Sweden's Julia Zigiotti Olme, left, and Australia's Caitlin Foord clash during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press
Sweden's Zecira Musovic, right, makes a save from a shot by Australia's Caitlin Foord, left, during their women's friendly soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The Associated Press