Australia’s Women’s World Cup campaign has ended with a whimper as the Matildas slumped to a 2-0 loss to Sweden in the third-place play-off.

Fridolina Rolfo gave Sweden the lead on the half-hour mark from a penalty awarded following a VAR review.

Kosovare Asllani added a long-range goal in the 60th minute and Australia’s largely blunted attack were unable to mount a comeback.

Captain Sam Kerr went down screaming in pain holding her right calf – the opposite leg to her previous injury – after a challenge from Magdalena Eriksson in the 75th minute and required treatment before returning to the fray.

The loss was a sour end to Australia’s groundbreaking run, their best finish at a World Cup.

Coach Tony Gustavsson had showed faith in his depth throughout Australia’s campaign and named an unchanged starting line-up, despite a three-day turnaround, from the 3-1 semi-final loss to England.

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who made multiple strong saves, was called into action in the opening minute, pawing away Stina Blackstenius’ shot after the striker was slipped through by Kosovare Asllani.

In the 23rd minute, Hayley Raso forced a good save from Zecira Musovic at the near post but three minutes later, Blackstenius went down after Clare Hunt clipped her foot.

Following a VAR review, Rolfo coolly buried the spot-kick past Arnold, who dived the right way, into the bottom corner.

Barcelona star Rolfo scored the killer goal when Sweden beat Australia 1-0 in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final.

Gustavsson turned to Emily van Egmond and Cortnee Vine off the bench in the 60th minute but Sweden scored two minutes later.

Asllani pounced on a turnover, worked the ball to Blackstenius and kept running.

Under pressure from Hunt, the striker cut the ball to the top of the box to Asllani, who coolly.

Clare Polkinghorne forced an excellent save from Musovic in the 70th minute and two minutes later she and Ellie Carpenter were substituted for Alex Chidiac and World Cup debutant Courtney Nevin.

But Australia couldn’t mount a comeback from there.

Source: AAP