Sam Kerr makes history as Australia beat China despite lightning

Not even lightning can stop the Matildas or Sam Kerr, who scored another double in Australia's 5-1 defeat of China on Sunday.

Lightning strikes around Kardinia Park forced a dramatic stoppage to the international friendly.

That was the only respite China enjoyed in Geelong, where Australia ran up a tally to complete a stunning 2017.

The Matildas have put together more fluent efforts, with coach Alen Stajcic rating his side's performance as "five out of 10."

But Australia always looked likely winners, claiming a record seventh successive win.

It's a run that will put the Matildas into the top five of the FIFA rankings at their next edition.

After Ren Guixin's neat opener on seven minutes, Australia took control.

Kyah Simon scored a superb long-range chip to equalise before Li Danyang put the ball in her own net from Caitlin Foord's cutback.

Kerr then brought her influence to the contest.

She broke free and burst into the box and unleashed a strike too hot for substitute goalkeeper Lu Feifei, who spilled the ball into the goal.

After the half-hour lightning break, which came following 39 minutes of game time, and the regulation quarter-hour half-time stoppage, Kerr scored again.

Emily Van Egmond's superb long-range ball put Lu in no-man's land and allowed the West Australian to head home.

Kerr was denied a hat trick by a super piece of defending but her place in the history books was confirmed.

The two strikes take her run to 11 goals in six games -- making her the first Australian to score in six consecutive internationals.

With the game out of China's sight, Kerr then centred the ball to allow Chloe Logarzo to score her first Matildas goal -- a simple tap-in at the back post.

Despite conceding five goals, China did improve on their effort in Wednesday's first friendly -- a 3-0 loss at AAMI Park.

Sigurdur Eyjolfsson's team tested Lydia Williams several times, forcing Australia's first-choice goalkeeper into a number of impressive saves.

"I don't think was our best performance this year," Stajcic said.

"The scoreboard was a little bit flattering.

"It certainly shows our potency in attack and counter-attack and at set pieces but I thought we were a bit disjointed and there were a few too many turnovers for my liking."

China's coach agreed that the four-goal margin wasn't a fair reflection of the contest.

"Today we definitely did some good things ... I don't feel like it was a 5-1 match, we gave them away," Eyjolfsson said.