Arriving in Melbourne on a late autumn afternoon, there was absolutely nothing to suggest that the Matildas, the nation’s favourite sporting team, was playing at Marvel Stadium later that night.

The black and white shirts of Collingwood and the brown and gold scarves of Hawthorn fans were noticeable around Southern Cross station, replaced slowly by the green and gold of Matildas fans coming in the opposite direction.

This is a city crying out for top-level football events, yet at the same time a city that cares very little for the round ball game when it comes up against its fellow football codes. Even with an A-League Grand Final in town this weekend, this was just another day in Victoria’s capital city.

So, when enduring interim coach Tom Sermanni’s starting line-up was handed around the Royal Melbourne Hotel, seat of the Matildas Active fans, those who travel far and wide to follow their heroes, there were eyebrows raised and puzzled looks; was this going to be another one of those games where the Matildas throw their youngsters into the fray to see if they can sink or swim?

Granted, the opposition was not Spain or the USA, but there was concern; was a team with the once-overlooked Charlotte Grant as one of the old-timers, alongside the unjustly maligned Emily Van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy, enough to beat lowly Argentina?

A half-empty stadium didn’t prevent the Matildas going all out with the fireworks and pre-game show, the darkness and phone lights being met with enthusiasm from the youthful supporters in this cavernous venue.

Sermanni was given a special shirt for his 150th game in charge, the victorious Australia team from the 2010 Asian Cup given the spotlight. This was a thoroughly wholesome setting and the home team looked ready for action as they bounced out of their squad huddle and onto the pitch for kick-off.

Kaitlyn Torpey looked lively on the right. Clare Wheeler was industrious in the middle. Debutant Kahli Johnson did well to beat her player on the left to find Holly McNamara but the shot was ballooned over the bar.

This was attack against defence, Argentina unable to keep possession against a tidier and more controlled Australia.

Grant raced down the right, ignoring Torpey and finding McNamara, but the shot was wayward. The stadium was quiet – the players could be heard even from a distance.

All of a sudden, Argentina coughed up a corner under no pressure whatsoever, Jamilla Rankin’s corner caused heart flutters, and we had a contest.

Argentina gained a foothold and sprayed the ball around with style, but neither team looked like making a breakthrough. Sermanni stood in the corner of his technical area seemingly enjoying the game as a fan, bent legs and puffed cheeks suggesting that he was living every move of his protracted swan song.

Johnson was close to breaching the Argentinian line before she swapped flanks and tried in vain to outmuscle the stout defence.

The visitors’ invention was on show from a cleverly-worked free kick, execution not matching intelligence; the Albiceleste were incensed when a nailed-on corner was overturned by the referee despite the assistant’s proximity to the action.

The breakthrough came when Grant was allowed to advance down the right and spin a cross over for the unmarked Johnson to head back across Abigail Chaves’ goal.

There was a heavy suggestion of offside that VAR might have paid if it was in action tonight, but the partisan crowd had their moment and coach German Portanova made sure the officials knew of their oversight.

A one-goal lead going into half time was about right, as the two sets of players made their way out through tunnels at opposite ends of the stadium to be replaced with eager half-time Miniroos.

The Matildas were back on before the sprinklers were turned off, such was their desire to come out firing for the second half.

Things kicked off with the music still blaring, but the energy subsided immediately as the crowd were again absorbed in the action.

Johnson had a half-chance as the ball fell her way, but didn’t catch the shot as she intended, though followed it up with a sumptuous spin and shot that had the crowd on their feet as it flashed wide of the post.

Torpey had a shot blocked for a corner as Australia pressed for the second goal, but the impetus was stopped when Kennedy’s stray boot left goalkeeper Chaves on the ground in discomfort.

Van Egmond was tempted to keep the ball from the drop ball restart but did the right thing.

Argentina were the first to their bench to freshen up their line-up. The Matildas continued the press. McNamara took the ball off the head of Clare Hunt who had stayed forward for a corner, Van Egmond was chopped down for a free kick, central and within range, Rankin overruled by Kennedy for the right to take the set piece, who curled the ball harmlessly over the bar.

This was not a vintage Matildas performance, but two substitutes midway through the half suggested that things would get markedly better, Michelle Heyman and Amy Sayer thrust into the action.

Seconds later, a mishit cross by Torpey somehow found its way into the net and the excitable had more to cheer about.