The Matildas made light work of Malawi in the pair's first-ever meeting at senior level.

Emily Van Egmond gave Joe Montemurro's side the lead in the fifth minute when she raced clear and slotted beyond Mercy Sikelo. The Aussies doubled up four minutes before the break, with Kerr netting from close range after a mix up in the Malawi backline.

While Kerr was substituted at half-time the Matildas motored towards victory. Alex Chidiac picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and drove forward before letting fly into the bottom-right corner in the 60th.

The victory was sewn up late on when Holly McNamara tapped home a flowing team move in the 86th, and Leticia McKenna netted on her international debut deep into stoppage time.

Australia will now face Kenya, while Malawi will take on India on Wednesday.

A goal in each half ensured hosts Kenya opened their campaign with victory over India.

The Harambee Starlets were rewarded for a quick start when Martha Amunyolet pounced on an error by India goalkeeper Shreya Hooda to fire home the opener in the second minute.

Their lead was doubled shortly before the hour, when Terry Engesha was slipped through to slot coolly into the bottom-right corner.

Brazil clicked straight into gear, carving out a slew of chances from set-pieces and open play. It was an errant pass from goalkeeper Leticia though that presented Korea with a golden chance to open the scoring as Casey Phair intercepted an under-hit ball, exchanged passes with Kang Chaerim and then curled her shot narrowly wide.

It was an error at the other end that allowed the hosts to strike first as Ary Borges’ shot was nodded past her own keeper by Noh Jin-young in the 42nd minute.

The introduction of the dynamic Kerolin at the break saw Arthur Elias’ side turn their dominance into further goals, the first coming two minutes after the restart as some left-wing Kerolin trickery teed up Ludmila to slide home from close range.

The Manchester City forward had a second assist, for Dudinha’s leaping volley, before she joined the scoring party herself shortly after the hour.

Palmeiras sensation Taina Maranhao rose from the bench to produce a slick fifth before a mix-up between Leticia and Mariza allowed Park Soo-jeong to steal possession and grab a late Korean consolation.

Rose Lavelle celebrated her 100th international cap with a goal and set up another as the United States beat Japan 2-1 on Saturday.

Gotham FC midfielder Lavelle, the reigning US Female Player of the Year, opened the scoring after just nine minutes in San Jose, California, after hooking in a lobbed cross from Trinity Rodman.

The 30-year-old attacker, one of the stars of the USA’s last FIFA Women’s World Cup victory in 2019, also played a key role in the home side’s second goal just after half-time.

A sweeping counter-attack ended with Lavelle steering a pass into the path of midfielder Lindsey Heaps who duly tucked away a low finish into the corner past Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.

Japan, who clinched their third AFC Women’s Asian Cup title last month with a victory over Australia, rallied later in the half and pulled a goal back through substitute striker Riko Ueki in the 61st minute.

But despite a flurry of chances from the Japanese, the US defence held firm to clinch victory - the 2024 Olympic gold medallists' 10th consecutive win under English manager Emma Hayes as they build towards next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The two teams will meet again in Seattle on Tuesday.

Photos: FIFA via Getty Images, AFP