Qantas Matildas sweep series

The Qantas Matildas have secured a series sweep over Mexico courtesy of a 4-0 win at the Port Melbourne Soccer Club in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Qantas Matildas have secured a series sweep over Mexico courtesy of a 4-0 win at the Port Melbourne Soccer Club in Melbourne on Tuesday.

After winning matches at the MCG (2-1) and Bob Jane Stadium (3-0) on Thursday and Sunday respectively, the Matildas wrapped up the series with another dominant performance, in front of a passionate crowd of mainly school children.

While Mexico again relied on its pace to keep the Australians in their own half, the home side's physical and aerial strength proved decisive, especially later in the game.

It took until the final minute of the first half for the Matildas to put their dominance in possession onto the scoreboard, with Mexican goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar making a rare error and allowing Caitlin Munoz to pounce and score.

Prior to that, Sarah Walsh had been causing plenty of problems for Mexico down the right wing, but the Matildas had been unable to genuinely test Tajonar, sending the majority of chances either high or wide of the bar.

Monica Ocampo, who scored the only Mexican goal of the series so far, in the 13th minute at the MCG, was again the go-to woman for the visitors, but Cheryl Salisbury had her measure, giving Melissa Barbieri a trouble free afternoon between the posts.

Within moments of the start of the second half, Munoz anticipated a back pass from a Mexican defender excellently, and beat Tajonor with a well-taken shot which demoralised the Mexicans and gave the Matildas a 2-0 lead.

She followed that up 15 minutes later with a second goal, which was well fed by Munoz. Munoz had taken the ball around several Mexican defenders, and put Walsh through. She slotted it into the left-hand corner of the net, all but sealing the result.

The small Mexican contingent in the crowd tried to lift their side, forming a conga line to chants of 'Mexico, Mexico' before indulging in a five-person Mexican wave.

But the inventiveness off the field couldn't lift the visitors, who continued to turn the ball over in dangerous areas.

Australia surged forward looking for a fourth and Munoz, who was proving a constant menace for the Mexican defence, eventually grabbed her hat-trick on 75 minutes, scoring from a tight angle courtesy of a deflection off Tajonar.

Substitutes Sally Shipard and Joanne Burgess took their chances to impress late, causing a few troubles for a tired Mexican defence. But a total dominance of both territory and possession late in the game, did not result in any further goals, with Mexican skipper Monica Gonzalez tightening up her back four.

Munoz said the 3-0 series result was very pleasing with the nine-team Asia-Pacific Championships in Adelaide just six weeks away. Australia will be looking to qualify for next year's World Cup at that tournament.

"I thought the team the team played really well. We stuck in there, and put it in harder than the Mexicans. It was good to get a couple of goals as well." she said.

"It's awesome to have a series win like that," she said. "We're all really fit at the moment. I think the Mexicans did die out a little bit late in the matches, that's when our fitness really kicked in."

Match Details

Australia 4 (Caitlin Munoz 44', 46', 75', Sarah Walsh 60')

Mexico 0

Qantas Matildas: Melissa Barbieri (gk); Heather Garriock, Cheryl Salisbury (Di Alagich h/t), Karla Reuter (Thea Slatyer 60'), Rhian Davies (Kate McShea h/t), Lana Harch (Sally Shipard 60'), Alicia Ferguson, Jo Peters (c), Kate Gill, Caitlin Munoz (Lisa de Vanna 76'), Sarah Walsh (Jo Burgess 72')

Cautions: nil