England frustrated by Australia's late leveller
Clare Polkinghorne notched a late leveller for Australia as a frustrated England were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in their friendly at Craven Cottage.
After their victory over Brazil on Saturday, Phil Neville's side came into the clash with the Matildas full of confidence and dominated throughout.
Fran Kirby, scorer of the winner at Meadow Lane last weekend, was on target again in the 21st minute, latching onto a Beth Mead pass and coolly slotting home from ten yards.
Lucy Staniforth's goal was disallowed for offside late in the first-half and England had two very strong penalty shouts turned away in the game.
Meanwhile, Australia's Princess Ibini-Isei had shot saved early in the second-half before the Matildas equalised through Polkinghorne's header with less than ten minutes remaining and England could not muster a response.
Neville made five changes to the side that beat Brazil and the hosts had chances early on when Lucy Bronze crossed to Mead whose back heel shot was saved by Mackenzie Arnold.
The Lionesses' opener came when Ballon d'Or nominee Kirby turned home after the Australian keeper mis-kicked her clearance to Mead who squared to the Chelsea striker.
Australia had chances through captain Elise Kellond-Knight who had a shot deflected and Amy Sayer had her long-range effort saved by Mary Earps.
The Lionesses nearly doubled their lead after captain Steph Houghton's header was saved and Mead
thought she'd scored the rebound but the ball was adjudged not to have fully crossed the line.
They did have the ball in the back of the net in the 43rd minute through Lucy Staniforth, who thought she had scored from Kirby's pass but the goal was ruled controversially offside.
Just before the end of the first-half, the Lionesses were also denied a penalty when Mead went down in the box after Caitlin Foord stuck her leg out.
The Matildas had an early chance in the second half when Lisa De Vanna found the run of Ibini-Isei but her shot was well saved.
Substitute Rachel Daly went close twice for England heading one shot and flicking another both over the bar.
Australia's Ellie Carpenter then forced Earps to tip her shot over the bar, which resulted in a corner where Polkinghorne headed in the equaliser.
A late goalmouth scramble nearly produced a winner for Neville's team but Australia cleared their lines and survived for a share of the spoils.
England (4-2-3-1): Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton (c), Abbie McManus, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Jordan Nobbs, Beth Mead, Lucy Staniforth, Toni Duggan, Fran Kirby
Substitutes: Nikita Parris for Mead 62, Rachel Daly for Staniforth 62, Fara Williams for Kirby 76, Leah Williamson for McManus 84
Substitutes not used: Carly Telford, Siobhan Chamberlain, Millie Bright, Isobel Christiansen, Hannah Blundell, Leah Williamson, Gabby George
Bookings: Mead 18
Red Cards: None
Australia (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Clare Polkinghorne, Stephanie Catley, Caitlin Foord, Amy Sayer, Elise Kellon-Knight (c), Princess Ibini-Isei, Tameka Butt, Chloe Logarzo, Lisa De Vanna
Substitutes: Emily Gielnik for Sayer 55, Larissa Crummer for Ibini-Isei 66, Mary Fowler for De Vanna 66, Alexandra Chidiac for Logarzo 81
Substitutes not used: Jada Mathyssen-Whyman, Aivi Luik
Bookings: Foord 90
Red Cards: None
Referee: Florence Guillemin
Attendance: 6068
This article originally appeared on Yahoo
