A spectacular long range effort from Kyra Cooney-Cross has helped Australia's Matildas to a dominant 5-0 win over the Football Ferns in Gosford.
Cooney-Cross, who was incisive and creative all night in central midfield, lobbed New Zealand goalkeeper Anna Leat from near to halfway in an effort reminiscent of her similarly audacious strike against Germany in October last year.
The Arsenal star's second international goal came in the 71st minute and only moments after Ellie Carpenter had put the Matildas 3-0 up.
Playing their penultimate game before hosting the Asian Cup in March, the Matildas were dangerous from the first whistle on Friday night, pushing high and circulating the ball confidently against a Kiwi outfit still stinging from a 6-0 loss to the US in late October.
Attacking midfielder Amy Sayer opened the scoring in the 13th minute, side-footing from the left hand side of the penalty area after a deft pass from the excellent Katrina Gorry.
Eleven minutes later, Hayley Raso, playing in a fluid forward three alongside Sayer and Caitlin Foord, doubled Australia's lead with an opportunistic curler from outside the box.
New Zealand's Maya Hahn, who was industrious in central midfield but culpable for a number of errors on the edge of her own penalty area, gave the ball to Raso, whose left-footed effort snuck in off the foot of the post with Leat well off her line.
The Football Ferns were better to begin the second half, forcing Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into action and muddying the contest in midfield.
However, New Zealand's good work was all undone by the Carpenter/Cooney-Cross sucker punch and the result made even more emphatic when Gorry poked home from close range after a deft give and go with substitute Holly McNamara.
Captain Steph Catley had a late penalty saved after the lively McNamara was brought down by a desperate Leat in stoppage time.
Sam Kerr, still easing back to full fitness after a 20-month injury lay-off, was an unused substitute and made to wait further for her first appearance on Australian soil since 2023.
The sides conclude their two match friendly series in Adelaide on Tuesday, in what will be Australia's final hit-out before the Asian Cup in March.
See how it all unfolded in our liveblog:
- ABC
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Football Ferns celebrate a goal against Venezuela. Photo: Photosport
