Gill’s goals take her tally to 13 goals in her last three international appearances for Australia. Sarah Walsh also scored a hat-trick with Joanne Peters a double, plus captain Cheryl Salisbury and Joanne Burgess getting on the scoresheet.

“This had the potential to be a tricky fixture for us so I am delighted with the result,” Matildas coach Tom Sermanni told FFA after the game.

Following a 15-0 rout of Hong Kong in Coffs Harbour last week the Matildas are on top of the group with maximum points ahead of DPR (North) Korea on goal difference.

The Matildas crunch matches will come in June when they play fellow group heavyweight North Korea in two games. The home leg will be played in Coffs Harbour on June 10 with the two matches likely to decide the group winner and qualification to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Australian line-up

Melissa Barbieri (gk); Dianne Alagich (Rhian Davies 72’), Cheryl Salisbury (c), Thea Slatyer, Heather Garriock, Lauren Colthorpe, Joanne Peters (Lisa DeVanna 60’), Collette McCallum, Joanne Burgess, Kate Gill, Sarah Walsh (Clare Polkinghorne 77’)