Midfielder Heather Garriock grabbed two goals in as many minutes midway through the half with Amy Chapman rounding out the scoring a minute from time.

The win sets up a dramatic final round of group matches tomorrow with the Matildas needing a win over World Cup runners up Brazil to have any chance of making the final.

The USA defeated Brazil 1-0 in the other group match and lead the table with six points ahead of Australia and Brazil on three points.

Italy started the match brightly dominating early proceedings with Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams forced into making a number of important saves.

“We were a little bit awry in the first half, as we changed a number of personnel from the previous match which affected us a bit," said Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.

"We lacked some cohesion and were perhaps fortunate to still be even at the break with Lydia making a couple of great saves.

“We predicted that we would finish physically stronger and that’s what happened, and as the second half went on we looked most likely to win the match.

"It is important that we continue to defeat nations with a similar ranking to us and we have done that recently against Canada and now against Italy."

Match Details:-

Australia 3 (Heather Garriock 66', 68', Amy Chapman 89')
Italy 0

Australian line-up: Lydia Williams (gk); Kim Carroll, Kate McShea, Clare Polkinghorne (Ellyse Perry h/t), Karla Reuter, Joanne Burgess (Amy Chapman h/t), Amber Neilson, Heather Garriock (Caitlin Munoz 76’), Kyah Simon (Lauren Colthorpe 67’), Katie Gill, Lisa De Vanna

Subs not used: Melissa Barbieri (gk), Cheryl Salisbury, Dianne Alagich, Collette McCallum, Jenna Tristram

Cautions: Carroll 53'


Peace Cup
Australia v Brazil
Thursday 19 June

Final
Saturday 21 June