Mary Fowler has recaptured her dangerous best to help launch the Matildas to a 2-0 win over South Korea in Newcastle.
After igniting Australia off the bench in Sydney, Fowler returned to the starting line-up at McDonald Jones Stadium and wasted no time to make her presence felt against the world No.19 outfit on Monday night.
The 22-year-old star outworked four South Korean defenders in the box to slot the 44th-minute opener before sparking Kaitlyn Torpey’s goal in front of a record 28,019-strong crowd.
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Fowler had plucked the ball off Lim Seon-joo and crossed to substitute Caitlin Foord – cleared of suffering a nose fracture after a head clash in Friday’s match at Allianz Stadium – in the 63rd minute.
A dogged Foord was denied three times before Torpey tried her luck with the crumbs, her ball deflecting in off the foot off Lim Seon-joo.
Torpey was awarded the goal, while the South Korean No.6 was stretchered off after an awkward landing.
Fowler had looked threatening from the outset, stationed by interim coach Tom Sermanni on the left wing in the same role at club side Manchester City.
She had cleverly danced around the visitors’ defence only to send her 13th-minute shot straight at goalkeeper Kim Min-jeong.
McNamara scrambled to pick up the crumbs but a quick-thinking Kim Min-jeong got to the ball first.
Teagan Micah worked diligently at the other end in injured No.1 goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s absence to claim back-to-back clean sheets.
South Korea had almost hit the scoreboard when Ko Yoo-Jin’s header crossed the line in the 86th minute, but the debutant was found to be offside.
It was hometown hero Emily van Egmond who found the back of the net in the second minute but the goal was disallowed given Holly McNamara had fouled Lim Seon-joo in the lead up.
Mary Fowler shoots to score a goal. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Van Egmond popped up again later to set up Fowler’s opener, with former Newcastle Jets midfielder Claire Wheeler and substitute Tash Prior also enjoying a homecoming.
Kennedy looked worse off with extensive bruising around haer right cheek, while minute but the star duo were able to shake off the incident and finish the first half.
Kennedy looked worse off with extensive bruising around her right cheek, while Yallop walked gingerly with a knee complaint.
The pair were eventually substituted in the 59th minute, replaced by Claire Hunt and Torpey.
© AAP
