Substitutes Clare Wheeler and Cortnee Vine had crucial impacts off the bench as the Matildas farewelled Australia before heading to the Paris Olympics with a 2-0 win over China on Monday night.
In front of more than 76,000 fans at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, the Matildas produced a better attacking display than they showed in last Friday’s 1-1 draw against the same opponent at Adelaide Oval.
However, they still had to wait until after half-time to break China’s resistance, with Wheeler and Vine key factors in the win after entering the contest at the start of the second-half.
Midfielder Wheeler, who came on for Emily van Egmond, heading the hosts into the lead in the 48th minute after timing her run to perfection to be first to a well-placed free-kick from Steph Catley.
Sydney FC star Vine, who replaced striker Michelle Heyman, provided the assist for Australia’s second goal in the 56th minute.
Her inch-perfect through ball found Hayley Raso, who rounded goalkeeper Xu Huan before guiding the ball home.
China had a couple of opportunities to fight their way back into the contest, but they were comfortably dealt with by Matildas keeper Mackenzie Arnold, who came on late in the first half for Lydia Williams.
The Matildas should have gone ahead as early as the 11th minute with a chance created by right-back Ellie Carpenter, who mesmerised China’s defence with a superb turn before storming into the penalty area and delivering a low cross that Wu Haiyan failed to properly clear.
The ball fell invitingly for the unmarked Tameka Yallop, but the Brisbane Roar star rushed her shot and failed to test goalkeeper Xu.
However, Xu was called into action five minutes later, standing tall to deny Matildas winger Hayley Raso, who should have done better with her chance.
But Raso made amends after half-time with the match-sealing goal as the Australians did more than enough to take winning form to Paris.
“We wanted to turn up, we wanted to win the game, we wanted to put on a show, so we came out and did a little better than we did in the last game,” Raso told Network 10.
The Matildas’ Olympics squad will be announced on Tuesday but the players were informed before Tuesday night’s match if they had been chosen.
Farewell Lydia
In her 104th and most likely final appearance for the Matildas, veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams started the match and wore the captain’s armband.
Emotional before the game when honoured in a ceremony that involved Australian sporting great Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Williams remained composed during her time on the pitch despite the crowd roaring every time she touched the ball.
She was then given a hero’s farewell when replaced by Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold in the 43rd minute.
After handing over the skipper’s armband to Steph Catley, Williams was embraced by all of her teammates as she left the field.
The hugs continued when she reached the sidelined, where she shared a special moment with Arnold, after which she was cuddled by coach Tony Gustavsson and the Matildas’ entire bench.
Williams has announced she will retire from international football after the upcoming Olympic Games.
“To come this far has been incredible,” Williams said.
We will know on Tuesday whether she is selected in Australia’s 18-player squad for Paris, or is among the four travelling reserves.