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8.33pm

The fans are happy but is Montemurro?

That was a pretty pleasing first half to the naked eye, and the score could well have ballooned a bit more than two goals with a bit more luck and shooting accuracy. Montemurro, however, has clearly picked out a few sources of irritation judging from some of his reactions in the technical area. And the thing about these sorts of games – when New Zealand play positively and open up in just the way Australia like – is that they’re not the best judge of where the team is at. Historically, the struggle has come trying to unpick nations who defend deep and compact. On that front, we are none the wiser.

8.30pm

Half-time

That’s it for the first-half. It’s been very entertaining. A fast-paced game and some early success for the Matildas. New Zealand’s keeper Anna Leat has a couple of mistakes to answer for in the changing room.

Australia 2-0 New Zealand, half-time

8.27pm

Gorry vaults for the crowd

A beautiful ball up the left side of the pitch finds Gorry who jumps over a sliding defender and takes the ball with her. It’s met with huge applause from the Gosford crowd and it leads to Australia’s first corner of the evening. New Zealand safely defend it.

Up the other end of the pitch, Indiah-Paige Riley runs up the right and strikes the ball just slightly too high for the goal. Mackenzie Arnold was ready to block it but it was an unlucky miss for Riley nonetheless.

Australia 2-0 New Zealand, 46 minutes

Katrina Gorry soars over New Zealand’s Kate Taylor.Credit: Getty Images

8.21pm

Ferns’ Bott makes an impact

New Zealand’s Annalie Longo and CJ Bott pair up to try open up a chance for New Zealand to get their first attempt on goal, but Carpenter gets there first.

The Matildas are back attacking and Bott is back to defending. She gets a little too stuck in and there are calls for a penalty kick from Australian players after Bott makes contact with Raso in the box, but the referee isn’t amused.

Australia 2-0 New Zealand, 38 minutes

CJ Bott and Winnie Heatley battle it out.Credit: Getty Images

8.13pm

Raso is on the hunt

Raso has her ribbons on today! Recognised pre-game for her 100th cap (played during last month’s away friendlies against Wales and England), the veteran is on the hunt and don’t be surprised if she scored again before half-time. You heard it here first. Sayer, too is such an excellent piece of the attack.

Raso with her family and coach Joe Montemurro before the match tonight.Credit: Getty Images

8.08pm

Anna Leat is not having a good night

Amy Sayer has an attempt on goal, Leat is off her mark again and she’s only saved by the post. Carpenter has a go with the rebound, but it shoots above instead.

Funnily enough, this is looking reminiscent of the Matildas last friendly against the Lionesses when it seemed for parts of the game as though the England side were just using Australia for target practice. Now, it’s the Matildas turn.

Poor Anna Leat.

Australia 2-0 New Zealand, 27 minutes

8.05pm

Raso scores!

So far, while the Matildas have been in their attacking half, they’ve looked extremely threatening. They’re not there for long before Emily Van Egmond has a shot on goal.

It’s blocked but a second later Hayley Raso grabs the ball from a New Zealand turn over and again takes advantage of Leat’s poor positioning. She scores without much force behind the ball at all, just curving in to the left corner.

Australia 2-0 New Zealand, 24 minutes

Raso scores!Credit: Getty Images

8.03pm

Bit of defending up the other end now

Celebrations are over and the Matildas are down to defend a corner from New Zealand. It’s headed away and lands safely at the feet of Ellie Carpenter who is in the best form of her career.

It’s not long before the Ferns win another corner, and another. A fourth corner sees at least three Matildas on the floor but again it’s cleared, thankfully.

Australia 1-0 New Zealand, 22 minutes

Mackenzie Arnold defends a crowded corner.Credit: Getty Images

7.55pm

Early goal for Australia

No Kerr? No worries.

A beautiful ball from Katrina Gorry glides between the New Zealand defenders and Caitlin Foord asks for the ball throwing them off even further. Instead, the ball finds Sayer who passes it into the back of the net for an early Matildas goal. Sayer was the most obvious replacement for Kerr tonight and she’s doing a good job of it so far.

Australia 1-0 New Zealand, 13 minutes

Gorry and Sayer combine for an early goal.Credit: Getty Images

7.50pm

Foord and Raso are early threats

Gosford are loud when Caitlin Foord breaks from the centre. She slides, passing the ball to Raso who should be able to convert the opportunity as New Zealand’s keeper Leat is off her mark. Instead, Raso’s attempt goes wide for a goal kick.

Australia 0-0 New Zealand, 8 minutes

Caitlin Foord is threatening New Zealand’s defence early on.Credit: Getty Images

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