Matildas cruise past Haiti

Ashley Brown, Katie Gill and Kyah Simon scored first half goals before Michelle Heyman added a fourth late on, ensuring Australia opened its three-game tour of the United States with a convincing victory.

“It was good to get the hit out, that’s the first thought,” said Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.

“We are pleased in the sense that we sort of finished the game early with three quick goals, which was good. We’ve come through the game with a clean sheet, which was good and we’ve come through without any injuries.

“I thought we looked a bit rusty as the game wore on and that was to be expected, particularly playing on this artificial field and after the long flight.”

The Matildas first scored with just four minutes on the clock.

Melbourne-based winger Brown swung in a precise corner that Haiti custodian Edny Limase could only parry into her own net.

Gill doubled Australia’s advantage on twelve minutes with a precise finish after some delightful lead up from Emily van Egmond.

When Simon found the back of the net with a cool header from a well-worked short corner three minutes later, the floodgates threatened to open.

But, due largely to the tenacious Haitian side stemming further chances, Australia’s tally remained at three until close to full-time.

Substitute Heyman – who claimed the W-League Golden Boot last season – headed home Danielle Brogan’s free kick with seven minutes to play.

In the lead up, the Haitian goalkeeper collided with a defensive counterpart, forcing the referee to bring an end to proceedings slightly before time.

At the other end, Sermanni handed goalkeeper Brianna Davey her debut, with the 17-year-old solid throughout her first taste of senior international football.

Davey was one of seven teenagers to play some part in the match for Australia, a positive sign for the side with its next shot at a FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games qualification two years away.

The Matildas next play the United States on Sunday 16 September at the Home Depot Centre in Los Angeles. Kick-off is at 12.30pm local time (5.30am AEST, Monday 17 September).

Scoreboard: Australia 4 (Brown 6’, Gill 12’, Simon 15’, Heyman 83’) beat Haiti 0

Matildas line-up: 18. Brianna Davey (gk), 3. Ashley Brown, 4. Claire Polkinghorne (2. Teigen Allen 62’), 5. Laura Alleway, 8. Danielle Brogan, 10. Servet Uzunlar, 12. Katie Gill (22. Michelle Heyman 78’), 14. Collette McCallum (c) (7. Caitlin Foord 62’), 15. Emily van Egmond (24. Emily Gielnik 78’), 17. Kyah Simon (23. Alanna Kennedy 62’), 19. Stephanie Catley.