After sending two of their 37 shots into the back of the net in extra-time in Townsville, there were concerns about their finishing ability.

A 3-1 scoreline at halftime silenced those concerns.

Head coach Tony Gustavsson set his side three areas to focus on in game two against the Football Ferns: their speed of play, their defensive focus and finishing their chances in front of goal.

They ticked two out of three boxes, but a defensive lapse cost them a goal.

"We spent a lot of time doing reviews and in training talking about the final pass and finishing. And I do think the players were 100 per cent focused in that final third tonight, especially in the first half," he said.

"I do think we lacked a little bit of concentration in the end of the first half. We should not let them get that goal and get some hopes in that halftime I think that influenced the second half a little bit. But definitely the focus in the final third was good tonight."

MORE IN CANBERRA SPORT:

The Matildas' defence were caught flat footed in the opening minutes and it almost cost the home side. Ferns striker Hannah Wilkinson found the ball at her feet, with Clare Polkinghorne and Alanna Kennedy trailing behind.

She launched an early shot off on the edge of the box, firing it across the face of goal and past the back post to the relief of the 13,077 fans on Tuesday night.

Before a corner proved the undoing for the Kiwis, again.

They survived two of Australia's set pieces but it proved third time unlucky for the visitors.

A failed attempt to play out from the back resulted in a corner, and Steph Catley's signature left boot provided the perfect delivery for the Matildas captain.

Sam Kerr flew above the Ferns defence, and headed the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring 14 minutes into their match at Canberra Stadium.

Two minutes later and the Matildas silenced their goal scoring sceptics once more. Hayley Raso's individual brilliance in the box got her name onto the scoresheet to make it 2-0.

The Kiwis suffered a blow to their lineup early. They lost midfielder Paige Satchell to what was reported as a heart rate issue, after numerous attempts by medical staff to regulate it to keep her on the pitch.

Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova confirmed Satchell was subbed due to a heart rate issue they were monitoring, as a player's health came first.

She said the side was not happy with the loss but there were positives to take out of the game, and the series.

"We wanted to keep a little bit more of the ball and control the game better. And it happened in the end of the game, possibly last 20 minutes is the way we would prefer to play from the beginning of the game.

"So there were positive moments but I have to say we faced really strong opposition today. Australia is a world class team.

"We wanted to keep ... our defending approach and how we fought and competed. That was unbelievable from our side. And that's how we wanted to play, and I have to again say everybody really left everything on the field."

The Matildas were creating plenty of chances in the final third and midfielder Emily van Egmond nearly made it three during a one-on-one battle with Ferns goalkeeper Erin Nayler, but sent it wide.

The number 10 made up for it soon after, threading a ball in behind the Ferns defence for Kerr. The Chelsea striker made no mistake with the outside of her boot for a brace to make it 3-0.

The visitors clawed one back, minutes before half time, against the run of play. Polkinghorne was caught on the wrong side of Wilkinson again, and could not get back on the right side in time.

Canberran Lydia Williams saved the Ferns striker's initial effort but could not keep her second effort out to lessen the blow to 3-1.

A scoreless second half ensued.

There was a five-player changing of the guard 15 minutes into the second half, with Alex Chidiac fans getting their wish. As Gustavsson paired her in the midfield with Katrina Gorry to see what that pairing, supported by Clare Wheeler in behind, could do.

The trio created chances but they could not find the final piece of the puzzle. And despite their two goal lead, the new-look side did not take their foot off the pedal for New Zealand's respite.