Football
AAP 6y

Sam Kerr equals Matildas goal record as double strike helps see off China

Sam Kerr's superb strike headlined a comfortable Matildas win over China on Wednesday and equalled a record for scoring in successive games.

The forward scored a double either side of Tameka Butt's deflected strike in a 3-0 defeat of their Asian rivals in Melbourne.

Kerr's effort equalled legendary forward Sarah Walsh's Matildas record of scoring in five straight games.

Her brace helped Australia to a sixth victory in a row off the back of the mid-year Tournament of Nations success and back-to-back home wins over Brazil in September.

Alen Stajcic's side have netted 19 times in that run -- Kerr getting nine of them -- but none have been better than her second on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old followed a bouncing ball along the edge of the area and unleashed an unstoppable rocket that was still rising as it beat China goalkeeper Zhao Lina.

China didn't force an Australian save until second-half injury time as Stajcic's side could have racked up several more.

Kerr headed the opener on 23 minutes and Butt's strike deflected off Ma Jun before Kerr's stunning third.

Clare Polkinghorne and Alanna Kennedy were unruffled in defence, while Emily Van Egmond set the tempo in midfield.

Michelle Heyman also made a welcome return to international football after more than a year out as a late substitute for Kerr.

If there was a concern for Stajcic, it was Steph Catley's painful-looking ankle injury, which saw her substituted at half-time.

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