Germany thump Matildas 5-2 in football friendly, as Emily Gielnik scores brace

It was an inauspicious return to the pitch for Australia’s women’s national team as the Matildas were dominated by Germany in a 5-2 loss in which only a late brace from Emily Gielnik added some respectability to the scoreline.

Captained by Sam Kerr, the national team were playing their first friendly since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and they looked like they needed the hit out.

Germany, who are ranked number two in the world, did not and put the Matildas to the sword with clinical if not typical efficiency.

Australia fell behind in the 11th…