The Westfield Matildas have claimed a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in their international friendly in front of a healthy crowd of 2,866 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Bluetongue Stadium.

In their last hit-out on home soil before departing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 in Germany, Tom Sermanni’s side maintained their 17-year unbeaten streak against New Zealand, and took the early advantage through a Catherine Cannuli header.

The lead was to be short-lived, however, as the Football Ferns levelled matters midway through the first half courtesy of a Hannah Wilkinson tap-in.

But Collette McCallum’s ninth international goal from a trademark free-kick on the edge of the penalty box just after halftime gave the Westfield Matildas a lead that they would hold for the remainder of the game.

Indeed, it would not take long for the Westfield Matildas to assert their authority over their rivals as Cannuli gave the side a deserved lead in just the 9th minute when she headed home Sam Kerr’s curling cross from the right.

Ria Percival looked to restore parity for New Zealand moments later when she saw Melissa Barbieri inches off her line and launched an audacious 30-yard lob. But the Westfiled Matildas’ skipper was up to the challenge, and made a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.

There was nothing Barbieri could do in the 26th minute, though, as Wilkinson finished off a strong run and low cross from the right flank by Ali Riley from close range.

Westfield Matildas strikers Tameka Butt and Kyah Simon looked dangerous for the remainder of the half, but with their respective efforts whizzing over the bar, the trans-Tasman rivals would go into the dressing rooms at halftime locked at 1-all.

A foul on Butt in the early stages of the second half would prove to be a turning point in the match.

From the subsequent free-kick just on the edge of the box, McCallum curled a sweet left-footed strike inside Bindon’s near post to claim the lead once more.

Sermanni then brought on Ellyse Perry and attacking midfielder Emily van Egmond in the second stanza as both sides pushed for goals in the closing stages of the match.

But despite efforts from Butt and Kerr late on, the physical encounter would finish 2-1 in favour of the home side increasing their winning streak against the New Zealanders to 21.

The Westfield Matildas will depart for Germany on June 14 before they take on Brazil in their opening match of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup on June 29 in Dusseldorf.

“We made eight changes to the team from our game on Thursday and when you do that you lose some of your fluidity and cohesion,” said Westfield Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.

“I think some of our players are just lacking a bit of match fitness and this is something we’ll now have to work on over the next month before we go to Germany.

“But in saying that we won the game and you’ve got to remember that sometimes that’s the most important thing at the end of the day.”

Match Details:

Westfield Matildas 2 (Catherine CANNULI 9’, Collette MCCALLUM 55’)

New Zealand 1 (Hannah WILKINSON 27’)

Sunday, 15 May 2011
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Local kick-off: 3.00pm AEST
Referee: Kate Jacewicz
Assistant referees: Allyson Flynn Airlie Keen
Fourth official: Peta McCallum
Crowd: 2,866

Westfield Matildas: 1. Melissa BARBIERI (gk)(c), 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (2. Ellyse PERRY 64’), 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 14. Collette MCCALLUM (30. Emily VAN EGMOND 83’), 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 17. Kyah SIMON, 20. Catherine CANNULI (19. Leena KHAMIS 46’), 22. Sam KERR, 23. Kim CARROLL, 24. Tameka BUTT

Substitutes not used: 5. Lauren COLTHORPE, 7. Heather GARRIOCK, 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 18. Lydia WILLIAMS, 25. Casey DUMONT, 26. Laura ALLEWAY, 27. Aivi LUIK, 28. Teigan ALLEN, 29. Caitlin FOORD

Yellow Cards: Sally Shipard 45+1’, Kyah Simon 77’

Red Cards: Nil

New Zealand: 1. Jenny BINDON (gk), Ria PERCIVAL (11. Kirsty YALLOP 67’), 3. Anna GREEN, 4. Katie HOYLE, 5. Abby ERCEG, 6. Rebecca SMITH (c), 7. Ali RILEY, 9. Amber HEARN, 12. Betsy HASSETT, 13. Rosie WHITE (14. Sarah MCLAUGHLIN 87’), 17. Hannah WILKINSON (15. Emma KETE 66’)

Substitutes not used: 8. Hayley MOORWOOD, 10. Sarah GREGORIUS, 16. Hannah WALL, 18. Katie BOWEN, 19. Olivia CHANCE, Aroon CLANSEY (gk), 21. Hannah BROMLEY

Yellow Cards: Katie Hoyle 48’

Red Cards: Nil