A Lisa De Vanna equaliser cancelled out Katie Bowen's long range strike to ensure the Matildas and the Football Ferns finished 1-1 in the second of the two friendlies at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. 
Both goals came in the second half and the two nations now get set to travel to the Rio Olympics, where the Australians, ranked fifth in the world, will fancy their chances of a medal more than the 16th-rated New Zealanders.
A slow burner of a game didn't really look like igniting until the half hour mark as both sides sparred and probed but failed to create many clear cut openings.
The theme was developed early when Australia's Caitlin Foord fired wide in the sixth minute, her effort replicated at the other end by Amber Heart after she had been played through by Annalie Longo. Erin Nayler, the Ferns' goalkeeper , came out and failed to punch clear, presenting Kyah Simon with an opportunity.
Katie Bowen fired the Ferns into the lead with a shot from outside the area when the ball bounced free after Sarah Gregorius' run was halted. Bowen reacted quickest to the rebound and lofted a shot over Williams head.
The Matildas looked as though they were going to need something special, and that's just what they got from captain De Vanna with 17 minutes remaining. The veteran forward linked well with substitute Michelle Heyman before making space for herself and firing a low drive into the back of the net.