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SYDNEY, March 7-- Australia's national women's football team, the Matildas, claimed the inaugural Cup of Nations Tournament on Wednesday evening, beating out South American powerhouse Argentina 3-0 in Melbourne. The unique three-city, four-nation tournament over the past 12 days featuring New Zealand, South Korea and Argentina has been somewhat of a "change up" from the usual tours by visiting footballing nations. But in the lead up to the 2019 Women's World Cup in France this June, Football Federation Australia (FFA) wanted the Matildas to experience some tough international matches before the competition. The FFA also wanted to make the women's game down under as visible as possible for its growing domestic audience base. "Women's football is a high priority for us, so we are prepared to make the investment," FFA chief executive David Gallop told the Australian Associated Press. "The quality of football has been excellent, and the opportunity to have four World Cup qualified women's national teams on Australian soil competing for silverware is a privilege to see." In spectacular form, the Australian side jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 4th minute, when captain Sam Kerr netted a well timed header from a corner-kick. Not long later in the 33rd minute, central defender Alanna Kennedy also snatched another goal with a header from a corner set piece. But despite some threatening raids from the Argentine side, the Aussies closed out the match with a late goal in stoppage time when wide forward Caitlin Foord blasted a penalty past the South American goalkeeper. | 
