The CommBank Matildas have defeated New Zealand 5-0 in Polytec Stadium, Gosford, in the first of a two-game series against their trans-tasman rivals.
Amy Sayer, Hayley Raso, Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry were the goal scorers in a dominant performance by the home side.
Head Coach Joe Montemurro made three changes to the team that fell to England in the most recent international window. Courtney Nevin, Hayley Raso and Emily van Egmond came into the side. Sam Kerr and Clare Hunt moved to the bench, while Alanna Kennedy served a one-game suspension after her red card against the European champions.
The CommBank Matildas started on the front foot. The interplay between Foord, Raso and Sayer was particularly impressive, with Raso having the first big chance of the game in the eighth minute.
It didn't take long for them to find the breakthrough that their early pressure deserved. In the 13th minute, a long ball over the top came out to Katrina Gorry. The midfielder cleverly played the ball in behind to Amy Sayer, who made no mistake with the finish to score her fourth CommBank Matildas goal.
They doubled their lead in the 24th minute. In her first home game after bringing up a century of national team appearances, Hayley Raso pounced on a misplaced Kiwi pass and finished expertly off the inside of the post.
Australia came close to three before half-time when Katrina Gorry muscled her through the Kiwi defence to set up a 3v1 situation, but New Zealand were able to get back and clear for a corner.
It was a comfortable two-goal advantage for the CommBank Matildas at half-time, and they came out after the break with clear intent to extend that lead. Caitlin Foord had a fantastic chance in the 53rd minute, only to be denied by a fantastic save.
Montemurro made a triple change in the 64th minute. Kaitlyn Torpey, Holly McNamara and Michelle Heyman entered the fray, replacing goalscorers Hayley Raso and Amy Sayer, as well as Courtney Nevin.
The knockout blow came with 70 minutes on the clock. First, Ellie Carpenter got on the scoresheet. New Zealand were not able to deal with a backheel from Heyman, and the ball was cleared to Carpenter in front of an open net. The Chelsea star gratefully accepted the invitation on offer to make it three.
Then, from kickoff, the spectacular. The ball fell to Kyra Cooney-Cross just inside New Zealand's half, who took a couple of touches, lifted her head, and saw Anna Leat off her line. The long-range strike crashed off the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the back of the net to mark Cooney-Cross' second international goal, and her first on home soil.
Clare Wheeler gave Cooney-Cross a well earned breather in the 76th minute, while Tameka Yallop replaced Emily van Egmond in midfield. The final change took place six minutes later, with Remy Siemsen replacing Caitlin Foord.
Katrina Gorry made it five in a frenetic period of stoppage time. The midfielder played a one-two with McNamara, whose pinpoint ball in found Gorry in stride. The finish was Gorry's 18th in Matildas colours.
It could have been six moments later when McNamara was brought down by Leat in the penalty area, but Steph Catley saw her penalty saved. The final action of the game was a clearance by Carpenter off the line to keep Australia's clean sheet in tact and leave with a five-star performance.
The result is a fantastic momentum builder ahead of the second game of the window in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Match Summary
Australia: 5 (Sayer 13’, Raso 24’, Carpenter 70', Cooney-Cross 71', Gorry 90+2')
New Zealand: 0
Australia: 1. Mackenzie Arnold (GK), 2. Courtney Nevin (8. Kaitlyn Torpey 64'), 3. Winonah Heatley, 7. Steph Catley, 9. Caitlin Foord (26. Remy Siemsen 82'), 10. Emily Van Egmond (13. Tameka Yallop 76'), 16. Hayley Raso (25. Holly McNamara 64'), 17. Amy Sayer (32. Michelle Heyman 64'), 19. Katrina Gorry, 21. Ellie Carpenter, 23. Kyra Cooney-Cross (6. Clare Wheeler 76')
Unused substitutes: 4. Clare Hunt, 12. Teagan Micah (GK), 18. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 20. Sam Kerr, 24. Charlize Rule, 27. Kahli Johnson,
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
New Zealand: 1. Anna Leat (GK), 2. Kate Taylor, 4. CJ Bott, 10. Annalie Longo (33. Grace Wisnewski 58'), 19. Liz Anton (3. Claudia Bunge 74'), 20. Indiah-Paige Riley (12. Betsy Hassett 67'), 26. Maya Hahn (11. Olivia Chance 74'), 27. Michaela Foster, 29. Katie Kitching, 34. Kelli Brown (17. Gabi Rennie 58'), 38. Deven Jackson (9. Milly Clegg 58')
Unused substitutes: 5. Meikayla Moore, 21. Victoria Esson (GK), 24. Ally Green, 28. Lara Wall, 32. Emma Pijnenburg, 37. Alina Santos (GK)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil