
England paid the price for their profligacy in front of goal as they drew with an under-strength Australia at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea forward Fran Kirby turned and fired the Lionesses ahead midway through the first half after being found by Beth Mead, who had latched on to a poor clearance by Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Lucy Staniforth then had a second goal ruled out for offside on the stroke of half-time, with replays showing the officials got the decision wrong.
England failed to take further chances, although they had two strong claims for a penalty turned down, and defender Clare Polkinghorne headed in from a corner with six minutes remaining to deny the hosts a sixth successive win.
England dominate but fail to make it count
England boss Phil Neville had called on his side to be more clinical with their opportunities following their 1-0 win over Brazil on Saturday and will be rueing more missed chances as his side, ranked third in the world, continued their preparations for next summer’s World Cup in France.
Australia, ranked sixth, proved to be stubborn opponents despite missing several senior players but England were good value for their lead at the break.
Mead impressed after being handed a start on the right wing and the Arsenal striker will be wondering how she did not get on the scoresheet in west London.
She fired wide twice when Arnold was out of position, saw a flicked effort well saved by the keeper and should have been awarded a spot-kick when she was brought down by Caitlin Foord on the stroke of half-time.
But England failed to convert their dominance into a second goal, and will have to be more ruthless if they wish to improve on their third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
More to follow.
Line-ups
England Women
- 13Earps
- 2Bronze
- 5Houghton
- 15McManusSubstituted forWilliamsonat 86'minutes
- 3Greenwood
- 19Walsh
- 4Nobbs
- 22MeadSubstituted forParrisat 62'minutes
- 20StaniforthSubstituted forDalyat 63'minutes
- 11Duggan
- 10KirbySubstituted forWilliamsat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Telford
- 6Bright
- 7Parris
- 8Christiansen
- 9Daly
- 12Blundell
- 14Williams
- 16Williamson
- 18George
- 21Chamberlain
Australia Women
- 18Arnold
- 21Carpenter
- 4Polkinghorne
- 7Catley
- 9FoordBooked at 89mins
- 2SayerSubstituted forGielnikat 55'minutes
- 8Kellond-Knight
- 20IbiniSubstituted forCrummerat 66'minutes
- 13Butt
- 6LogarzoSubstituted forChidiacat 81'minutes
- 11De VannaSubstituted forFowlerat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Luik
- 5Fowler
- 12Mathyssen-Whyman
- 15Gielnik
- 22Crummer
- 23Chidiac
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away11
Live Text
Match ends, England 1, Australia 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, England 1, Australia 1.
Corner, England. Conceded by Clare Polkinghorne.
Offside, England. Fara Williams tries a through ball, but Nikita Parris is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lucy Bronze with a cross.
Alex Greenwood (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ellie Carpenter (Australia).
Toni Duggan (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ellie Carpenter (Australia).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Mackenzie Arnold (Australia) because of an injury.
Offside, England. Nikita Parris tries a through ball, but Alex Greenwood is caught offside.
Booking
Caitlin Foord (Australia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lucy Bronze (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Caitlin Foord (Australia).
Substitution
Substitution, England. Leah Williamson replaces Abbie McManus.
Offside, England. Toni Duggan tries a through ball, but Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Toni Duggan (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ellie Carpenter (Australia).
Goal!
Goal! England 1, Australia 1. Clare Polkinghorne (Australia) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Elise Kellond-Knight with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Australia. Conceded by Mary Earps.
Attempt saved. Ellie Carpenter (Australia) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Emily Gielnik.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Nobbs (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nikita Parris.
Fara Williams (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Elise Kellond-Knight (Australia).
Substitution
Substitution, Australia. Alexandra Chidiac replaces Chloe Logarzo because of an injury.
Foul by Alex Greenwood (England).
Larissa Crummer (Australia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, England. Fara Williams replaces Francesca Kirby.
Attempt blocked. Chloe Logarzo (Australia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mary Fowler.
Foul by Rachel Daly (England).
Ellie Carpenter (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Stephanie Houghton (England).
Chloe Logarzo (Australia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Mary Fowler (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt missed. Nikita Parris (England) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Toni Duggan.
Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (England) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Alex Greenwood with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Australia. Mary Fowler replaces Lisa De Vanna.
Substitution
Substitution, Australia. Larissa Crummer replaces Princess Ibini.
Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (England) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Lucy Bronze with a cross.