Sydney FC beat Perth to win W-League title

The Cup of Nations against Argentina, New Zealand and Korea begins next week, before a shot at the biggest prize of all awaits at her third World Cup.

In the grand final, the Lake Illawarra defender turned attacker played a key role in the 4-2 victory over Perth.

She helped set-up Savannah McCaskill’s header, with a deft cross to put the Sky Blues ahead 2-1 before half-time.

But glory over the Glory came after the turmoil of Alen Stajcic’s controversial sacking from the Matildas.

And also after and the disappointment of missing last year’s decider because of a foot injury, when Sydney FC lost 2-nil to Melbourne City.

“Super stoked obviously,” Foord said.

“To redeem ourselves this year, it’s pretty special.

“It was our best game all season and we left it to the most important one.”

International superstar Sam Kerr is viewed at the Matildas’ great hope at the World Cup in France, starting in June.

While Kerr made her mark from the penalty spot in the grand final, the result also showed why her Australian teammates like Foord will be so important.

Read more: Caitlin Foord scores hat-trick as Matildas dominate Chile

At just 24, Foord has a wealth of experience since bursting on to the world stage as the FIFA ‘young player of the tournament’ at the 2011 World Cup in Germany.

American McCaskill showed just how hard the World Cup will be to win, with a display that will catch the eye of US national selectors.

She the crossbar from point-blank range in the second minute, but McCaskill responded immediately by teeing up Sofia Huerta for the opener, before showing keen instinct when Foord turned provider, looping in a header over Perth goalkeeper Eliza Campbell.

"First off, Caitlin put an absolute cracker of a ball in,” she said. 

“She whipped that in perfectly and I think I caught the keeper playing the cross a bit.

"I don't think she thought I was gonna be able to get my head to it so I just kind of put it on target and hoped for the best, to be honest."