The Qantas Matildas came agonisingly close to winning the four nations tournament in Quanzhou, China last night thrashing Russia 5-0 in their final match.
With the same number of competition points as the host nation but a two-goal deficit on goal difference, the Australians were hoping that Germany would defeat China by three goals but they fell just short with the Germans taking the final match 2-0.
So it left Australia and China locked on the same competition points and with six goals for and three against for the tournament leaving China to be awarded the championship due to defeating Australia 3-0 when the two countries met on Sunday.
In what was the most convincing performance of any team at the tournament, the Australian team completely dominated its opponent to lead by two at the break and then add another three in the second half, with Kate Gill grabbing a double.
Coach Tom Sermanni was delighted with the team's performance.
"The girls played exceptionally well," said Sermanni.
"We expected that we could win this match but I was surprised by how much control we had."
"The tournament has been a good one for us and we will take a lot out of it."
Running with a strong wind in the first half, Australia had a lot of possession and pinned Russia back in its half for long periods.
The pressure nearly told in the 33rd minute, when the speedy Lisa De Vanna raced onto a long clearance by Cheryl Salisbury, however De Vanna's attempted lob was grabbed by the lanky Russian keeper.
That however proved to be only the prelude, as two minutes Australia opened the scoring. The impressive Gill beating her marker and laying off to De Vanna. Her flick pass was a gem to Heather Garriock, who shot across the keeper and inside the far post for a well worked goal.
Two minutes later De Vanna made it 2-0, when good work on the right saw Rhian Davies get free and whip a cross to the back post. Gill brought the ball down brilliantly with her chest and volleyed the ball back across goal, where De Vanna was hand to head home.
The Australian's didn't let up in the second half and it was Gill who got her just rewards with a goal, when she met a flick-on at the back post with a volley that gave the Russian keeper no chance.
Gill then grabbed a second with a simple tap in 11 minutes later, after a terrific run into the box by De Vanna.
The all important fifth goal that Australia needed to have any chance of winning the tournament duly arrived with five minutes remaining, when Gill again turned her defender, but was brought down in the box for a penalty. Salisbury made no mistake with her spot kick.