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Phil Neville’s side had been much the better side against the Matildas, ranked three places below them at sixth in the world, but were denied two strong appeals for penalties and saw a goal to add to Fran Kirby’s opener midway through the first half incorrectly ruled out for offside.
Though Neville will doubtless be impressed with his side’s display as they build towards next summer’s World Cup in France, the manner of the draw will surely leave the Lionesses licking their wounds.
It was no surprise that England took the lead in the first half, merely that it had taken over 20 minutes for their dominance to be reflected on the scoreboard. Mackenzie Arnold, who had been keeping the visitors level with fine saves early on, couldn’t have asked for a more challenging clearance after Stephanie Catley sent the ball bouncing high towards her. However, the Australia goalkeeper might have done more than passing the ball straight to their opponent’s most dangerous attacker.
The Lionesses pounced on their prey. Beth Mead swivelled and spotted Kirby, who took her time to deliver the killer blow as she jinked into the space to lash the ball home.
Misfortune and officiating combined to ensure England weren’t out of sight by the interval. Mead was convinced her poked effort on the rebound from Steph Houghton’s powerful header had crossed the line but Arnold’s scramble obscured the view of assistant referee Solenne Bartnik.
The official had no mitigating circumstances when Lucy Staniforth put the ball in the Australia net again. Kirby’s square pass when one-on-one with the goalkeeper had presented the Birmingham City midfielder with the simplest of goals but Bartnik’s flag said she was offside. She was nothing of the sort.
Mead fumed with referee Florence Guillemin at the interval after she was denied a penalty for what seemed a clear foul by Caitlin Foord. Phil Neville was equally unimpressed.
Australia rarely looked like taking advantage of their reprieves from the officials early in the second half but England were unable to cut through their opponents with quite as much regularity.
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Substitute Rachel Daly added greater presence to the England attack as the Lionesses looked to kill off the contest, a task which might have been easier had Bartnik correctly identified another foul by Foord in the area, this on Nikita Parris.
With each refereeing error it appeared more inevitable that Australia would gain parity, which they did five minutes before full-time when Polkinghorne rose highest to meet a corner from the right.
Still there were chances for England to snatch a deserved victory but Daly couldn’t quite take advantage of pandemonium in the Australian box as the Matildas held on for a fortunate draw.