The Matildas managed to hold the United States to a 0-0 draw at the Olympics on Tuesday night with a challenging encounter providing plenty of lessons.
Australian teenager Mary Fowler took her chance to shine from the start, while questions remain over the Matildas' plan of attack.
The green and gold look set to progress to the knockout stages despite finishing third with that position potentially offering up some silver lining.
Sporting News wraps up what we learned from the Matildas' performance against the United States...
Matildas prodigy Mary Fowler shines on the big stage
A late call-up to the starting side for Caitlin Foord, Fowler showed why she's tipped to be the Matildas' next big star.
The 18-year-old was lively from the outset against the United States and nearly opened the scoring after 18 minutes with a header that crashed onto the crossbar.
Deployed largely on the left flank, Fowler regularly crossed paths with USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, who at 36 was double the age of her Aussie counterpart.
The Matildas youngster refused to be overawed however, never backing away from a challenge and making the most of her speed with and without the ball.
With Fowler already playing club football in Europe with Montpellier, it's scary to think just how good she could be in four years time when she'll still only be 22.
I just love watching the rise of Mary Fowler, she reminds me of a young @CaitlinFoord, always unfazed by the occasion. Good start by @TheMatildas matching the US on intensity and speed of play #USAvAUS
— Sarah Walsh (@swalshy9) July 27, 2021
United States give Australia an attacking lesson
Though neither side's frontline fired on Tuesday, the USWNT showed the benefit of playing more free-flowing attacking football.
More than once they made the most of small openings to carve up the Matildas defence. Australia, meanwhile, laboured to find the killer ball as they struggled to turn possession into chances.
Coach Tony Gustavsson is still trying to leave his mark on the green and gold, but in doing so, he must be careful not to blunt their natural attacking instincts.
With a superstar like Sam Kerr leading the line, the Matildas should never doubt their ability to create something from nothing.
The silver lining to third-place finish
While not the result they were hoping for, the Matildas are still poised to progress to the knockout stages as one of the two-best third-placed sides.
That finish means Australia will face the winner of Group E in the quarter-finals which will either be Great Britain or Canada.
Though solid sides, had the Matildas finished second, a date with the winner of Group F loomed with powerhouses Netherlands and Brazil vying for that position.
Australia boast a bad record against both nations having lost 5-0 to the Dutch in April and were knocked out of the Rio Olympics by Brazil five years ago.
A cleaner slate against both Great Britain and Canada will therefore give the Matildas less to dwell on heading into a must-win match.