This was the experienced Alagich's final game for the Matildas before retiring from international football and she got the result she wanted.

New Zealand are bound for the Olympics so this was always going to be a good test for the green and gold.

The goal that proved decisive arrived 10 minutes before the interval with Khamis pouncing on a Heather Garriock free-kick to nod the ball over New Zealand keeper Jenny Bindon.

Khamis, who had entered the fray midway through the first half as a substitute for the injured Kyah Simon, had seen an earlier effort disallowed before finding the back of the net.

The retiring Alagich (pictured) saw an early header fly over the top while Caitlin Munoz also went close.

New Zealand skipper Hayley Moorwood went closest for the visitors but her strike whistled into the side-netting. Speaking after the match Alagich said: "It was a great way to finish. I said to the girls before the match that I didn't want to lose this one and they came through for me.

"I thought I was going to be more emotional today, but I really enjoyed the match and everything finished on a good note.

"It was my time to finish. I wanted to go out at the to of my game and I was able to do that today."

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni was glowing in his praise of Alagich's contribution to women's football in Australia. He said: Today was a vintage Di Alagich performance.

"She almost scored from a corner and made some terrific last grasp tackles to win things.

"I thought she played very well and to cap it off with a win was a most appropriate way to go out.

"I feel a great sense of pride to have been there at the start of her career and now to be here at the end I feel rather privileged with that."

In relation to the match, Sermanni was very pleased with the result.

"It was a tough game. We expected New Zealand to be up for this game and they are very well prepared going into the Olympics.

"They were obviously really determined to get a result out of us today and they keep pushing us to the limit. I

"In the end I was happy to get the goal and come away with the win", concluded Sermanni.

The Matildas will play their next international friendly match against the Japanese Women's National Team on Thursday 24 July at the Home Stadium in Kobe, Japan as part of a double-header with the Qantas Under 23s scheduled to face the Japanese Under 23 Men's National Team at the same venue later in the day.