Teresa Polias finally earned her 11th national team cap for Australia as the Matildas opened their campaign at the inaugural Cup of Nations with a 2-0 win over New Zealand on Thursday night.
It was a controlled and professional performance from Australia who cruised to victory in front of almost 7000 fans at Leichhardt Oval.
Polias, a St George Football Association junior from Brighton-Le-Sands, had been stuck on 10 Matildas caps after spending a number of years in the international wilderness.
But the diminutive midfielder finally earned her 11th appearance for Australia as a second half substitute.
Polias entered the fray with Australia leading 1-0 with just under half an hour to play under new coach Ante Milicic.
The 28-year-old Carss Park and Ramsgate junior was on the pitch as Hayley Ruso sealed the result. Six months after breaking her back playing in America, Ruso took just three minutes after coming off the bench to clinch the match with a classy individual effort.
Emily Gielnik had earlier opened the scoring with a measured, curling strike just before half-time.
In the other match, South Korea thrashed Argentina 5-0 to sit top of the Cup of Nations table on goal difference after one match each.
The Matildas face South Korea in their second match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon, with New Zealand to take on Argentina.
Australia play Argentina in their final match at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
