Mary Fowler was on target as Australia recorded a strong 8-0 win over the Philippines on Sunday.

City’s striker opened the scoring at the Optus Stadium before a hat-trick apiece for Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord and Clare Wheeler’s strike secured the Olympic Qualifying success.

It represented our forward’s first for the Matildas since netting in their fine 4-0 victory over Canada in the group stages of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, defender Alanna Kennedy played the full 90 minutes in Perth.

DOWNLOAD THE MAN CITY APP

Australia came into the fixture following a hard-fought 2-0 over Iran last time out and looking strengthen their position at Group A’s summit.

And they made the perfect start when Fowler ghosted into the box and neatly tucked home the game’s first goal after an accurate cross found her at the back post.

It took Tony Gustavsson’s side only four minutes to double their lead through Kerr before a Foord brace extended their advantage to four.

But there was still time for a fifth before the interval and it was Kerr who found it in first half stoppage time.

The Chelsea forward scored Australia’s second in the win over Iran and she had her treble seconds after the restart when she directed a whipped cross past Olivia McDaniel with a well-timed header.

But she wouldn’t be the only player to leave with a match ball when Foord scored her third after driving into the box and unleashing a powerful effort into the roof of the net.

Wheeler then added the gloss to the emphatic success when she scored her first senior international goal when hitting a dipping effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Elsewhere, Yui Hasegawa‘s Japan earned a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Olympic qualifying thanks to goals from Moeka Minami and Remina Chiba. 

The victory saw them preserve their 100% record in Group C so far after two matches.