Analysis: options aplenty as Westfield Matildas show scoring power

This was certainly the Westfield Matildas we've come to know.

Held scoreless by Korea Republic last time out, there was no such problem against an outclassed Vietnam on Wednesday morning.

Sam Kerr bagged a brace in an altogether routine 8-0 romp that marked Australia's first victory of the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

READWestfield Matildas storm to huge win over Vietnam in AFC Women's Asian Cup

Routine in the sense that it has become almost commonplace for the Westfield Matildas to dish out these kinds of hidings, particularly to Vietnam.

And though not perfect, the wholly dangerous display - if not always entirely clinical - did serve to assuage any concerns over the blank on the weekend.

The variety of scorers offered as much encouragement as the scoreline, with Kyah Simon, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, Hayley Raso, Chloe Logarzo - who has four in 2018 alone - all on target.

Hayley Raso
Hayley Raso impressed off the bench.

Alen Stajcic knew goals were needed to secure the upper hand on Japan in Group B and his team selection reflected the mentality; Emily Gielnik, nominally a right-back, acted as an auxiliary winger, while Kennedy had no hesitation in getting forward.

Lisa De Vanna, Larissa Crummer and Michelle Heyman all watched from the bench in an illustration of the incredible firepower at Stajcic's disposal.

STATS: Logarzo rivals Kerr for Westfield Matildas' scoring mantle

Every part of that confidence and versatility going forward will be of use when games are decided by fine margins at the pointy end of the tournament.

Backed by a defence that has kept five clean sheets in their last six, there are now eight good reasons to believe Australia can get a positive result against Japan on Friday night.

Emily Gielnik
Emily Gielnik summed up Australia's flexibility.