A stunning goal from Kyra Cooney-Cross and a late header from Clare Hunt has given the Matildas a 2-1, come from behind victory against Germany 2-1 at the MSV-Arena in Duisburg
[Summary]Selina Cerci gave Germany a deserved lead after just five minutes as the hosts proceeded to lay siege to Australia's goal, including seeing Felicitas Rauch hit the post and Mackenzie Arnold make two fine saves.
However, from that point on, Germany were wasteful in the final third and sloppy in possession — and it cost them just before half time when Cooney-Cross unleashed a special leveller from 35 yards.
The Queenslander spotted Stina Johannes off her line and unleashed a stunning shot that flew inch-perfect into the net.
It had taken 50 appearances for Cooney-Cross to find the goal for her country in senior internationals. It's hard to say it wasn't worth the wait.
Germany, who made six changes from the side that beat England 4-3 at Wembley, were still wasteful in the final third and were made to pay again when Clare Hunt scored her maiden Matildas goal with a header at the back post.
It is the Matildas first victory over Germany since 2005, a game that came during a previous spell under interim coach Tom Sermanni.
Germany will perhaps leave this game wondering how they contrived to lose it.
In reality though, the Olympic bronze medallists's new coach Christian Wück need look no further than their extraordinary profligacy in the final third of the pitch.
All up, Germany managed 20 shots over the course of the match, but hit the target just six times.
Australia, by contrast, managed six shots in total but tested the keeper on five of those occasions.
On a night where Germany paid tribute to departing legend Alexandra Popp, given a ceremonial starting berth for her 145th and final match for Die Frauen, the hosts utterly dominated the opening 15 minutes, pegging Australia back deep inside their own penalty area.
When Popp was taken off at the quarter-hour mark, heralded by an emotional standing ovation, Germany's best moments were already behind them.
By then Germany had taken the lead, a header from Cerci after a wicked cross from the right by the energetic Vivien Endemann leaving McKenzie no chance, although it was the Australian keeper's poor goal kick that lead to Germany resuming their pressure.
Much of the Matildas' attacking threat came through Caitlin Foord, who should have had a penalty in the first half after being scythed down in the penalty area, one of three terrific runs of which two resulted in fine saves from German keeper Johannes.
It took though, Cooney-Cross's moment of magic to get the Matildas on the board, moments after an injury to Kaitlyn Torpey saw a formation reshuffle from Sermanni, who introduced striker Michelle Heyman in place of the stricken left back.
The Matildas were better in the second half, threatening more regularly, once again with Foord the tormentor in chief, her trickiness and physicality resulting in bookings for three German players.
Germany were more scrappy, making their maximum six changes but turning over possession with an alacrity that dismayed the home support.
It was that inability to maintain possession that gave the Matildas a chance, which Hunt took with her head, scoring her maiden senior international goal to give the Aussies a famous victory and just their second ever over Germany.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
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