Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and fellow forward Mina Tanaka found the net in the second half after having two earlier efforts called back for offside by VAR.

Forward Sophia Smith, one of six USA starters making her World Cup debut, led the way with a first-half brace and an assist on midfielder Lindsey Horan’s goal after half-time.

A fracture would’ve fractured her body and soul but thankfully the South American missed by inches the ankle bone and the impact on her shin was cushioned by the pad.

Seven months on from lifting the World Cup, the eyes of the footballing world were trained on Florida as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner made his eagerly anticipated first appearance.

Shane Lowry, Seamus Power, Darren Clarke and amateur Alex Maguire all missed the halfway cut but Pádraig Harrington just made it to the weekend.

The realistic target following an opening defeat is second place in Group B, a scenario keeping them in Brisbane to likely meet England in the last-16.

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Ireland need a top-two finish in the seven-nation tournament to qualify for the World Cup in the USA and West Indies next year

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Quinn was determined to absorb all that came with opening against the Matildas in their mammoth backyard of the full 75,000-seater Stadium Australia on the outskirts of Sydney

The Girls in Green were defeated thanks to a Steph Catley penalty early in the second half

The news that new Alzheimer’s treatments may soon be approved is being greeted with cautious optimism but changes in the health system are required to support their delivery 

The two men who were killed at a New Zealand construction site were in their 40s and had worked alongside the gunman before he went on his rampage, police have said. Court records also detailed the gunman’s violent past.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty to help Nigeria secure a 0-0 draw against the Olympic champions  

While the three-match dished out to the Ireland captain has deprived him of an Aviva Stadium send-off teammates are confident he'll be sharp at World Cup

The long-running uncertainty over Sexton’s disciplinary situation had cast a shadow over preparations - on the outside at least - but Jimmy O’Brien would have us believe that the skipper’s fate wasn’t exactly keeping colleagues awake at night.

An Australian themed bar on Leeside hosted the family of the Cork playmaker, as well as Ireland supporters, for the game with the Matildas.

The vast majority of players representing Ireland at their first-ever tournament have never experienced the joy of cancelling out concessions and earning at least a draw for their endeavours.

It’s a good measure of how far we’ve come that we weren’t outplayed, weren’t in any way outclassed.

Meanwhile, Kyra Carusa insists players going down in the penalty area is not something you want to see after Australia spoiled their World Cup debut.