At Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, our skilful forward came from the bench to score the game’s only goal as the Matildas edged past France 1-0 – while Alanna Kennedy started, and played 80-minutes of, the success.
Despite an electric attacking first-half display in front of a record, home-soil, crowd for Australia Women of 50,269, the scoreline remained goalless at half-time.
In perhaps need for some further cutting edge in the final third, Tony Gustavsson turned to Fowler to break the deadlock during the interval, and she certainly delivered.
Just over 20 minutes following the break, former sky blue winger Hayley Raso burst down the right wing and pulled the ball back to the 20-year-old who fired home – sending the home support into ecstasy.
City’s striker’s goal seemed to have dented France’s growing momentum in the game as Australia closed their World Cup warm-up in perfect fashion.
Elsewhere, Hasegawa scored twice and registered an assist as Japan recorded a strong 5-0 victory over Panama.
The versatile midfielder was the architect of her nation’s first goal when teeing up Risa Shimizu who expertly opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.
It didn’t take long for our combative engine room enforcer to extend Futoshi Ikeda’s side’s lead when netting four minutes later.
Hasegawa finished her maiden season at the Academy Stadium with 27 appearances to her name in an excellent 2022/23 campaign and she doubled her tally against Panama to further her nation’s lead to 4-0 after Aoba Fujino scored the game’s third on 60 minutes.
And four became five when Moeka Minami scored deep into stoppage time.
Next up for Japan is their opening World Cup group game when they face Zambia on Saturday 22 July, while Kennedy and Fowler’s Australia play the Republic of Ireland on Thursday 20 July.
