First half goals from Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt First half goals from Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt

The Westfield Matildas have defeated China PR 2-0 in the first of their two-match series.

Goals from Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt in the first half proved the difference on the scoreboard in an impressive showing by the Australian team at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

The two sides will meet again at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta on Wednesday 27 November (7pm).

The matches are part of Australia’s lengthy build-up towards next May’s AFC Asian Women’s Cup in Vietnam, which doubles as qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

Westfield Matildas coach Hesterine de Reus was delighted with her team’s performance.

“I’m happy with the result, happy with the attitude – they really came to win and they did it – and happy with the performance,” de Reus said.

“I thought China were great in their short-combination play which gave us some trouble. We kept our areas well and were really good in our counter-attack.

“We created some fantastic opportunities, scored two great goals and were really effective in the way we played.

“This is a good benchmark playing against an Asian team, and we have all the pieces together to make a good preparation for the Asian Cup.”

Westfield Matildas captain Clare Polkinghorne said the amount of goalscoring chances created was pleasing.

“We gained a lot of confidence from the first half performance,” she said. “Everyone got stuck in and we were winning a lot of ball.

“We scored a couple of good goals, and in the end we are maybe a little disappointed we didn’t score a couple more. We did create a few chances and that is promising.” 

Australia 2 (Katrina Gorry 34’, Tameka Butt 40’)

China 0

Australia: Lydia Williams (gk); Steph Catley, Kim Carroll, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway; Tameka Butt (Collette McCallum 76’), Elise Kellond-Knight, Katrina Gorry; Lisa De Vanna (Chloe Logarzo 68’), Sam Kerr, Michelle Heyman (Hayley Raso 82’)

Substitutes: Eliza Campbell (gk), Emily Van Egmond, Ashleigh Sykes, Nicole Sykes.

Yellow Cards: De Vanna 33’

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