The Westfield Matildas began their final preparations for next month's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany by cruising to a 3-0 win over New Zealand in their first of two international friendly matches at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford today.
Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni fielded a partly experimental line-up for the match ahead of the team's second outing against the Football Ferns on Sunday at 3pm AEST.
Teenage debutant Caitlin Foord commenced her international career in sensational fashion with a well crafted individual effort on the 10 minute mark.
The 16-year-old Year 11 Illawarra Sports High student, one of two debutants along with Sydney FC teammate Catherine Cannuli, converted from 10 yards with a composed finish to become one of the youngest ever goal scorers for the Westfield Matildas.
The Westfield Matildas midfield trio of Emily Van Egmond, Kylie Ledbrook and Aivi Luik dominated for large periods and the young debutant Foord was dangerous down the right flank whenever in possession.
While the game became a tug-of-war between the two sides for much of the second half, Sermanni's substitutions breathed life into his side with Kyah Simon and Sam Kerr adding an effervescent edge to Australia's attacks.
And five minutes after Simon's arrival the Sydney FC striker scored with a sensational long-range strike on 79 minutes to double the Westfield Matildas' advantage.
The Westfield W-League's leading goal scorer and Player of the Year launched an unstoppable 30-yard effort into the top corner of the net.
Fellow substitute Kerr struck the post a few moments later and Leena Khamis then did likewise against a tiring New Zealand defence.
The match was the first for the Westfield Matildas since the recent knee injury to key forward Kate Gill which will force the reigning AFC Women's Player of the Year to miss Germany.
Striker Khamis filled the void and capped a hard-working performance with a goal six minutes from time after latching onto a perfect Van Egmond pass.
The Westfield Matildas have now beaten the Football Ferns 3-nil in their past three meetings and will return to the training field tomorrow morning to prepare for their second match against the New Zealanders on Sunday.
"I was delighted with the performance today," said Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni.
"When you consider that we've had no real match practice before today and New Zealand are coming off the back of four games (at the Cyprus Cup in March) to come out and perform this well is very pleasing.
"We had pretty much four debutants tonight in the side in Catherine Cannuli, Caitlin Foord, and Laura Alleway and Emily Van Egmond, who have only played a few minutes each at international level, all four players stood the test, and for Caitlin Foord to score such an outstanding goal on debut is just fantastic.
"You can't really pick fault with the performance today, the team worked exceptionally well and the three goals were very well taken.
The NZFA adds:
"We had some good spells but Aussie were the better team, there's not much doubt in that," said New Zealand coach John Herdman. "They are very good at showing you why they are Asian champions." Hannah Wilkinson had a great chance to put New Zealand back on level terms 25 minutes into the match but put her shot over the bar on a day when the Matildas were more physical and showed more of a ruthless streak. "They were very clinical. They scored two goals we could've dealt with better and one which was absolutely world class. That's our challenge and we either the wrong decision or a lack of quality lets us down. What's going to be key when we get into these games against the best sides we got into these games, score first and stay in the game." "We had a great spell in the second half and looked like we were going to get something but the opportunities went and when they did the Aussies punished us. "We had a very good chance to equalise early on and then a couple of half chances throughout the game but at times when got into some good positions we just took the wrong option. There are some things we can work on which will just make things tougher for Aussie on Sunday. "On the road to the World Cup we'll take some positives out of that and three or four key learnings into the next game." New Zealand play Australia again on Sunday and their chances would be boosted by the return of WPS Rookie of the Year Ali Riley who is still in doubt after missing Thursday's match with a hamstring strain. On a brighter note, there were personal milestones for Katie Bowen who made her senior debut and for captain Rebecca Smith who played her 50th 'A' international.