Australia 1-0 France
Mary Fowler fired Australia to victory against France in front of a record crowd in Melbourne as the home side enjoyed a timely shot of confidence six days out from their Women's World Cup opener against Ireland.
Fowler's composed 66th-minute strike in front of 50,629 fans settled the Matildas' nerves after captain Sam Kerr and strike partner Caitlin Foord were subbed off near the hour mark after a fruitless hour in front of goal.
France's loss in the friendly at Docklands Stadium came with a sting in the tail, with winger Selma Bacha rolling her left ankle in stoppage time and carried off on a stretcher.
The crowd was an Australian record for a women's soccer match, smashing the previous best of 36,109 in 2021 when the Matildas hosted the United States in Sydney.
However, that record will only last six days as more than 80,000 are expected at Sydney's Stadium Australia for their game against Ireland next Thursday.
World Cup contenders France have lost plenty of firepower to injury, including experienced midfielder Amandine Henry who was ruled out with a calf problem.
𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝟓𝟎,𝟔𝟐𝟗.
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 14, 2023
The biggest-ever crowd for a standalone #Matildas game in Australia! 👏#AUSvFRA pic.twitter.com/lK4kB966L9
Apart from Bacha's injury worry, France, who first play Jamaica, may leave Melbourne feeling a touch aggrieved after striker Eugenie Le Sommer was denied a penalty after being pounded in the back by Steph Catley during the second half.
Australia played an energetic game, harrying the French all over the field but conjured few shots on goal until Hayley Raso found space on the right wing and Fowler in the box with a cut-back pass.
Subbed on at half-time, the young forward slid home a low shot for her tenth international goal, triggering huge cheers around the roofed stadium.
Australia finished with their own injury concerns, Tameka Yallop limping off after hyper-extending her knee in a challenge. Kerr was icing her hamstring after coming off while centre-back Alanna Kennedy also had a niggle.
Both teams were scrappy early and failed to convert chances, with Kenza Dali firing wide from the edge of the box and a heavy touch by Kerr failing to honour a sublime through-ball from Foord on the break.
With France making inroads down the Matildas' left flank, Grace Geyoro pounced on a meek headed clearance and thumped a volley goalwards but it cannoned into the outstretched leg of centre-back Clare Hunt.
Elsewhere, Ireland's Group B opponents Canada drew 0-0 with England, Valentina Giacinti scored the only goal as Italy beat New Zealand, while Spain routed Vietnam 9-0.
