This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The Matildas finished fourth at the Algarve Cup in Portugal after losing their bronze medal play-off to Denmark in a penalty shootout.

The teams were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Australian striker Kyah Simon’s first-half goal cancelled out by a Pernille Harder strike 10 minutes from time at Albufeira.

Matildas to play Denmark for third place at Algarve Cup Read more

With no extra-time, the game headed straight to penalties where veteran Clare Polkinghorne and replacement Samantha Kerr had their efforts saved.

Denmark made no mistake as Sanne Troelsgaard’s top-left corner shot handed the Europeans a 4-1 shootout victory and the bronze medal. Spain took out the invitational tournament, beating Canada 1-0 in the final.

Australia, who finished atop group C, started the stronger when Sydney FC’s Simon benefited from a left-side run by attacking partner Katrina Gorry. Gorry coasted past two defenders before finding Simon, who smashed the ball home at close range.

The two sides traded chances, with Simon and team-mate Emily Van Egmond narrowly missing attempts on goal and Matildas stopper Lydia Williams pulling off saves to deny Troelsgaard and Harder.

With an Australian victory in sight, star striker Harder stepped up to control a long-ball superbly and then slice through two defenders, placing her shot into the top right corner.

In the shoot-out, Elise Kellond-Knight found the net before Polkinghorne and Kerr failed to breach Danish goalkeeper Stina Lykke Petersen. It completes an up-and down tournament for world No6 Australia, losing to Sweden before recording wins over the Netherlands and China in the pool stage.