The two nations played out a 1-1 draw in Adelaide last Friday and there was little between the teams again for this meeting.
Played at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, the Matildas largely dominated the first period, with both Fowler and Kennedy seeing shots blocked.
Former City forward Hayley Raso was a constant threat to the Chinese defence, but couldn’t find an opening in an attritional and goalless first 45.
Australia came out of the blocks racing in the second period, scoring two goals in eight minutes to settle the contest.
Just three minutes after the re-start, Clare Wheeler headed home Steph Catley’s cross to make it 1-0.
And the dangerous Raso doubled the Matildas’ lead on 56 with a smart left-foot finish.
China responded well, dominating much of the time that remained but there was to be no further scoring.
Fowler played the full 90 minutes while Kennedy was replaced on 87.
Elsewhere, City’s Yui Hasegawa shone in a 4-1 victory over New Zealand, going close to scoring on a couple of occasions before providing an assist from a free-kick in a typically assured display.
Milly Clegg gave the Kiwis the lead on 22 minutes, and they took that advantage into the break.
But Japan responded strongly after the re-start.
Maika Hamano levelled with a 20-yard shot into the bottom right corner just four minutes into the second period.
Then, Hasegawa’s clever free-kick on the hour-mark picked out Hamano to score her second of the game with an emphatic finish from inside the box.
Aoba Fujino tall-but sealed victory six minutes later before Remina Chiba completed the rout on 80 minutes.
Hasegawa’s 82nd appearance for her country ended -fittingly - on 82 minutes.
