Matildas players were left stunned by a baffling piece of refereeing that ruled out a goal as Australia defeated Kenya 2-0 in the FIFA series final in Nairobi.
Sam Kerr scored her 75th international goal with help from a goalkeeper howler, while Clare Wheeler added the Matildas’ second after half time to ensure victory over the hosts.
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Kerr completely mis-hit her strike and the hearts of the 20,000 locals in the stands sunk as the ball trickled through the finger of goalkeeper Lillian Awuor.
There was no fortune in Wheeler’s finish, however, as the midfielder danced past multiple defenders, after being picked out by Caitlin Foord, to score her third international goal.
But the Australians were adamant they were denied a third goal in the 61st minute after Foord found the back of the net.
The Arsenal star got on the end of an Amy Sayer pass but as the Matildas celebrated Foord blasting the ball into the top corner, referee Yordanos Mulugeta ruled the ball had entered from the side netting.
Matildas earn hard-fought win over Kenya | 01:13
The Australians protested as Mulugeta gestured how the ball made its way to the back of the net and stood by her decision.
It appeared that their may have been an off-side in the build up, but the linesperson’s flag was never raised.
Coach Joe Montemurro was up in arms on the sidelines, while Foord received a yellow card for her arguments.
Regardless, the strange incident had no baring on the result.
The world No.15 Matildas were too strong for the 128th ranked Kenyans, who fought admirably.
The hosts twice came close to equalising before hitting the dressing room, but Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was up to the task.
As well as bouncing back from the disappointment of last month’s Asian Cup final, the victory also served as a fitting celebration for Alanna Kennedy.
The 31-year-old became just the fifth Matilda to make 150 appearances for the country and she was handed the captain’s armband for the day to mark the milestone.
