First half goals by Amy Chapman and Caitlin Munoz had Australia 2-0 ahead at the break, but the Canadians pulled a goal back through Kara Lang and then hit the crossbar twice in the second half.

Australia started the match well and captain Cheryl Salisbury had the first chance when her shot was tipped around the post by Erin McLeod.

They continued to put pressure on the Canadian penalty area and it finally told in the 22nd minute, when Amy Chapman scored after she pounced on a rebound of Catlin Munoz’ excellent shot on the turn.

Two minutes if probably should have been 2-0 when a quick counter, saw the ball come out to Ellyse Perry, who was called into the starting line-up late after Jo Burgess was forced to withdraw late. Perry’s first time cross found Munoz, who headed wide from close range, but luckily for her, she was ruled offside in any case.

Walsh then went close, before the Canadians had their first decent chance on the half hour mark, when they almost scored from a defensive mix-up. Polkinghorne however saved the day to clear the danger.

The lead was doubled five minutes before the break, when Collette McCallum took a free kick that released Perry down the right and her first time cross, was glanced home by a superb header by Munoz.

Australia started the second half where they left the first and were pressuring the Canadian goal, with McCallum, Perry and Colthorpe all having shots at goal.

But against the run of play, Canada equalized as they countered quickly, with captain Christine Sinclair sent clear. She rounded Williams, but her shot was blocked by Polkinghorne, which rebounded out to Lang, whose shot went in off a prone Salisbury on the goal line.

Two minutes later Australia suffered another blow when Walsh had to be carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury, later revealed as bruising to the shin.

The goal seemed to lift the Canadians, who came at the Australian defence and twice almost had an equaliser with Tancredi and then Sinclair crashing shots against the crossbar.

Kyah Simon saw a header tipped around the post late in the game and Australia were able to hang on for a hard earned and determined win typified by a length of the field run from stoic defender Kate McShea despite tired legs.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since the Matildas qualified for the quarter finals of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup courtesy of a famous last minute Cheryl Salisbury equaliser in the final group match in Chengdu.

Coach Tom Sermanni was pleased with the team's performance with five teenagers taking the field against a full strength Canadian side.

"I was generally happy with the performance of the team especially in the first half when we played some very good football," said coach Tom Sermanni.

"Canada are a very difficult team to play against but there were good contributions throughout the team including from some of the less experienced players which was also pleasing."

Australia will open their AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign against Chinese Taipei on Thursday 29 May, followed by the match against Korea Republic on Saturday 31 May before the final group match against Japan on Monday 2 June. The final will be played on June 8 with all matches in Ho Chi Minh City.

Australia 2 (Amy Chapman 21', Caitlin Munoz 40')
Canada 1 (Erin McLeod 54')

Australia: Melissa Barbieri (gk) (Lydia Williams h/t); Clare Polkinghorne, Kate McShea, Cheryl Salisbury, Di Alagich, Ellyse Perry, Lauren Colthorpe, Amy Chapman (Tameka Butt 75'), Collette McCallum, Caitlin Munoz (Jenna Tristram 65'), Sarah Walsh (Kyah Simon 60')

Unused substitutes: Karla Reuter, Amber Neilson, Ella Mastrantino, Tameka Butt, Kyah Simon, Lydia Williams (gk)

Cautions: Alagich 85'