The fans came to see Australia's striking sensation Sam Kerr in action, and the West Australian didn't disappoint, opening the scoring midway through the first half with a header and then delivering the coup de grace with a stunning long-range strike half-way through the second half.

The Chinese, who have historically had the better of Australia, were simply never in the game. 

They barely had a shot until midway through the second period and were never allowed to settle or get into any kind of rhythm by the pacy, aggressive Australians who pressed all over the pitch and moved the ball quickly into threatening positions. It was only in stoppage time that the Australian goalkeeper – by this time substitute Eliza Campbell, making her debut –  was pressed into action.

Kerr, the pin-up girl of the Australian game, announced her presence in the opening minute with a deft flick, while Lisa De Vanna, the veteran forward, buzzed enthusiastically on the right flank.

De Vanna's early cross just eluded Kerr as the Chinese defenders scrambled the ball clear, while Caitlin Foord fired wide as she tested her range.

Australia was moving the ball around well, playing some neat one-twos and dominating possession. The Chinese were largely reduced to hitting long balls into the channels more in hope than expectation, scrambling for knockdowns and second balls.

Foord's cross from the left almost found the head of Kerr, China goalkeeper Zhao Lina just palming the ball to safety before the Australian forward could make contact.

hat was in the 15th minute. Eight minutes later Australia was a goal to the good, and the wonder was that it had been so long coming.

However, there was no mystery about the scorer as Kerr once again did what she does so well, this time shrugging off the attentions of her marker, Li Danyang, and two other Chinese defenders before heading home Emily Van Egmond's corner.

China threatened only sporadically. Zhang Rui's long ball found Tang Jiali, but the forward could not control the pass, while Wang Shanshan threatened to break through only to be denied by Hayley Raso's tackle.

At the other end Van Egmond, who was marshalling the midfield with trademark aplomb, tried her luck with a speculative long-range effort.

The Matildas almost doubled the advantage just after the restart when a cross from the right eluded the Chinese defenders and just needed a touch from Katrina Gorry.

Kerr could have scored her second in the 48th minute after a neat move  which she initiated. She played  a return pass with Tameka Butt before Foord sent her through with just Lina to beat, but her shot with the outside of the boot flew wide of the post.

Australia did make it two in the 52nd minute after some excellent work by Foord down the left, who broke into the Chinese penalty area and made space for herself before cutting the ball back to Butt. The midfielder was given plenty of time on the edge of the area to line up her shot, which then took a looping deflection off a defender to sail past Lina just under the bar.

Lina redeemed herself shortly after when she dived to palm Alanna Kennedy's free kick to safety, and then denied De Vanna when she tipped her effort round the post.

But Kerr put the cherry on the cake with her sumptuous drive from distance – another clip for a burgeoning highlights reel.