Australia beat Slovenia to ensure winning start for Montemurro

Montemurro has vowed to implement an attacking, possession-based style with the Matildas, who have started preparations for next year's Asian Cup on home soil. It didn't take long for the hosts to take heed of Montemurro's blueprint when forward Emily Gielnik poked in after three minutes.

The crowd of 8,678 were left slightly disappointed until Holly McNamara and substitute Hayley Raso scored in the dying minutes to put gloss on the scoreline. "We have to learn to be comfortable under pressure," Montemurro said of the 15th-ranked Matildas.  "It was an important exercise tonight, it's about the process going forward."

The 55-year-old Australian was appointed coach this month, ending a long search after Tony Gustavsson departed following the Matildas' lacklustre performance at the Paris Olympics. Montemurro enjoyed successful coaching stints at Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon, who he recently steered to their fourth consecutive league title.

Australia were without English Women's Super League stars Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler and Clare Wheeler. The talismanic Kerr, Australia's leading scorer in international football, has not played since January last year when she ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament with Chelsea. Kerr won't make her long-awaited return in this block of friendlies, but has rejoined the squad and watched the game on the sidelines.

After a fast start the Matildas were in danger of letting Slovenia back into the game.  Forward Spela Kolbl almost equalised in the 14th minute only for her chip to smack off the crossbar. Slovenia kept pressing after the interval, but rued errant finishing with Zara Kramzar's shot from point-blank range straight at goalkeeper Teagan Micah.

The 38th-ranked Slovenia's chances of an upset were Kerr when midfielder Sara Makovec hobbled off early in the second half with a knee injury. "Something popped in her knee, hopefully she's going to be alright," coach Sasa Kolman said of Makovec, who plays in Austria. The teams meet again at the same venue on Sunday before Australia face Panama in a pair of home friendlies next week.