MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Substitute forward Mary Fowler scored in the 66th minute to give Australia a 1-0 win over France in a warm-up match Friday ahead of the soccer Women's World Cup.
The 20-year-old Fowler, who came on at halftime for the Matildas, took a pass on the right wing from Hayley Raso and scored to give Australia the lead before a sellout crowd of 50,629.
France defender Selma Bacha was taken off the field by stretcher after sustaining an ankle injury in the final minutes of the match.
France is ranked fifth behind the leading United States, Germany, Sweden and England. Australia is 10th-ranked going into the World Cup.
Australia plays its opening Group B match on July 20 in Sydney against Ireland. France takes on Jamaica in its first Group F game on July 23, also in Sydney.
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More AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
