Ballarat soccer export Kyra Cooney-Cross will see her Olympic hopes come down to the final group game after Australia fell 4-2 to Sweden on Saturday night.
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The former Ballarat Lady Red Devils player was a second-half substitute in the loss which leaves the Matildas needing to beat reigning world champions, the United States, to keep their finals chances in their own hands.
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Cooney-Cross was introduced into the Matildas' midfield in the 63rd minute and battled hard in a game where her opponents showed why they're one of the medal favourites.
Sweden opened the scoring midway through the first half before a 36th-minute Sam Kerr header drew the Matildas level.
The Australian captain would bag another to start the second half and briefly give her side the lead.
A Swedish equaliser just four minutes later swung the momentum, before a darted shot from outside the box gave the 2016 silver medallists a 3-2 lead in the 62nd minute.
Kerr had the chance to draw level again and secure a hattrick only for her 69th-minute penalty to be saved spectacularly by the Swedish goalkeeper.
A late goal guaranteed the result for Sweden and all but ensured the world's fifth-ranked team would finish on top of Group G.
Australia meets the United States at 6pm on Tuesday night (AEST).
A win would see the Matildas finish second in Group G and advance to the quarterfinals. A narrow loss could still see Australia qualify as one of the two best-performing third-placed sides.
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