Australia have drawn 1-1 with New Zealand at Etihad Stadium in their Rio 2016 send off match.

Also Rio bound, the Football Ferns opened the scoring in the second half through Katie Bowen before co-captain Lisa De Vanna equalised less than 10 minutes later.

The first half saw the visitors come out with a well organised and executed game plan.

Pressing the Australian midfield and forwards high up the park, the Kiwis forced early turnovers as the Matildas struggled to find their rhythm.  In an at times scrappy affair, uncharacteristic turnovers put Australia on the back foot with the Kiwis looking to capitalise.

New Zealand fashioned the first real look at goals for either custodian with a quick shot in the 18th minute that Lydia Williams watch sail harmlessly past.

Right back Clare Polkinghorne looked to provide support further up the park, combining well with Caitlin Foord on the right but the Football Ferns were able to time and again disrupt Australia in the final third.

Foord was in the action in the 32nd minute with a storming run from a corner to curve in a ball to De Vanna with the captain's touch evading her and allowing the New Zealand defence to regroup.

Australia had a moment of concern in the 33rd minute when a collision between Steph Catley and Ria Percival left both players on the group for a number of minutes before play resumed.

A dangerous 38th minute corner saw Amber Hearn almost connect at the back post.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/740088726064238592

Caitlin Foord produced the best chance for Australia just before the break with another surging run, with her strike just sailing wide of the mark.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/740090175557009408

The second half saw a brighter start for the Matildas with Kyah Simon with two early effort on goal with one sailing high and the other wide.

Simon remained lively in the half forcing a 50th minute save from Erin Nayler to keep the scores locked.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/740096493349015553

New Zealand then turned up the pressure with captain Abby Erceg going within centimetres of opening the scoring only to be denied by the woodwork in the 55th minute.

Playing on the transition, New Zealand took the lead in the 64th minute after substitute Sarah Gregorious with a driving run. Her effort fell to Katie Bowen with the attacked chipping over Lydia Williams for her first international goal.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/740099944778858496

Katrina Gorry tried to fire Australia level with several long range efforts before Lisa De Vanna netted her 39th international goal in the 73rd minute with a trademark left footed effort.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/740102892107923457

Australia pushed for an equaliser late with Michelle Heyman putting the ball in the back of the net before being call back for offside.

While Laura Alleway forced another diving save from Nayler to leave the scored locked at full time.

The result maintained Australia's 25 year and 27 game unbeaten streak over their Trans Tasman neighbours.

https://twitter.com/TheWomensGame/status/740108015408291840

Next for the Matildas is a pre-Olympics camp with the team departing in early July for Brazil.

Australia         1 (De Vanna 73')

New Zealand  1 (Bowen 64')

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne

Kick-Off: 5:00pm AEST

Australia line-up: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (15.Teigen ALLEN 66'), 5.Laura ALLEWAY, 7.Steph CATLEY, 8.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (6.Chloe LOGARZO 66'), 9.Caitlin FOORD, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 11.Lisa DE VANNA, 14.Alanna KENNEDY, 17.Kyah SIMON (16.Michelle HEYMAN 66'), 19.Katrina GORRY

Substitutes not used: 2.Larissa CRUMMER, 3.Caitlin COOPER, 12.Casey DUMONT (gk), 13.Tameka BUTT, 18.Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk) , 20.Ellie CARPENTER

Yellow cards:

Red cards: Nil

New Zealand line-up: 1.Erin NAYLER (gk), 2.Ria PERCIVAL, 4.Katie DUNCAN, 5.Abby ERCEG (c), 7.Ali RILEY, 9.Amber HEARN, 11.Kirsty YALLOP (12.Betsy HASSETT 45'), 14.Katie BOWEN (8. Jasmine PEREIRA 78'), 15.Meikayla MOORE, 16.Annalie LONGO, 17.Hannah WILKINSON (10.Sarah GREGORIUS 45')

Substitutes not used: 3.Anna GREEN, 13.Rosie WHITE, 18.Catherine BOTT, 23.Cushla LICHTWARK (gk), 26.Jane BARNETT, 27.Paige SATCHELL

Yellow cards: 

Red cards: Nil