AUSTRALIA really needed this.

In a week where the entire country – from athletes, to actors, to politicians – was left reeling from the fallout of the Australian men’s cricket team’s ball-tampering scandal, we all just needed something to believe in.

On Monday night, the Matildas gave us that, and more, with a convincing 5-0 win over Thailand before heading off to Jordan in a bid to win the Asian Cup.

Alen Stajcic’s side have given the Australian public plenty of reasons to smile over the years – especially over the past 18 months.

And so, in a time where we needed something to remind us of the beauty and fun of sport more than ever, it seemed only appropriate that they were the team taking the field in green and gold.

As the Matildas walked out onto the pitch, commentator Brenton Speed gave everyone watching a timely reminder of their credentials.

“Well the Australian sporting public are looking for a national team to love and trust and play with integrity - and here they are,” Speed said on Fox Sports.

“The Matildas, this country’s favourite team.”

And as you listened to the squeals and screams from the crowd – full of young girls – you couldn’t help but believe his words.

A number of young girls walked out with the Matildas, with Perth local, star forward Sam Kerr taking a moment to enjoy sharing the experience with her niece.

If that image alone – of Kerr grinning ear-to-ear alongside her niece Lola - didn’t lift the spirits of sports fans, the next 90 minutes would do that and more.

Sam Kerr of the Matildas hugs her niece. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough) Source: AAP

But it wasn’t the talismanic striker who captivated the imagination of the crowd early in the piece.

It was surprise starter Alex Chidiac who seized the game by the scruff of the neck.

The 19-year-old South Australian relished her role in the midfield alongside Katrina Gorry and Emily van Egmond.

Chidiac was lively, technically strong and took on the Thai defence at every opportunity.

“I’m just loving the intent shown by Alex Chidiac,” former Matildas striker Sarah Walsh said on Fox Sports.

“She wants to be on the ball ... making those early runs forward.”

In just the sixth minute, she made her mark on the scoreboard.

Larissa Crummer – playing at right back – fed the ball to Lisa De Vanna then went on a dashing run to provide support.

De Vanna sucked multiple defenders in then cleverly backheeled the ball to Crummer, who cleverly whipped a ball into the path of Chidiac. The 19-year-old brilliantly controlled the ball on her chest, brought it down and slammed her shot – which took a handy deflection – home.

It was just reward for a brilliant early showing.

“She’s been dominant in there from the start of the game … Chidiac’s taken a fantastic first touch and then a magnificent hit as well,” former Matildas captain Kate Gill said on Fox Sports.

From there, the Matildas absolutely dominated on the park, but struggled to find a finished product up front.

Setting up this dominance was Australia’s relentless defensive press, which left Thailand with no room to move.

Starting at the front, the Matildas’ press is a hallmark of their game under Stajcic, with the Australians looking to win the ball back as early as possible from their opponents, before punishing them going forward.

Alex Chidiac (third from right) of the Matildas celebrates a goal. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough) Source: AAP

“There is no other team in world football that presses like the Matildas,” former Matildas striker Sarah Walsh said on Fox Sports.

“Setting up their prospects to win the World Cup in 2019 will be off the back of this press.”

That said, it took another 36 minutes for the Matildas to hit the scoreboard again – though Thailand never really looked like scoring.

West Australian Lisa De Vanna looked nervous in front of her home crowd, missing a couple of golden opportunities, while Kerr had multiple chances saved – including two rapid-fire headers.

But eventually, De Vanna managed to make one stick.

Kerr found the roaming Chloe Logarzo, who broke away from her marker and cut an inch-perfect ball across the face of goal, with De Vanna there to tap it home in the 41st minute.

The relief on De Vanna’s face was there for all to see.

Just three minutes later, she repaid the favour to her roommate, whipping in a delightful left-footed ball for Logarzo to head home.

At 3-0, the game was all but done by half-time – and the crowd was in raptures.

The only thing missing was a Kerr goal.

Samantha Kerr. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“She’ll be itching to find the back of the net, but she’s been scoring dime a dozen every single game, so I mean you can’t do it all the time,” Gill said at half-time.

“But I have faith in Sammy, I think she’ll end up with one by the end of this game.

“She’s had chances, she’s been involved with absolutely everything.”

Just seven minutes into the second half, the Matildas added a fourth goal – and Kerr was involved, even if not as a scorer.

De Vanna weaved through traffic and found Kerr, who quickly laid the ball back to De Vanna. The veteran forward took a touch then toe-poked the ball into the far bottom corner.

It was magnificent.

Just three minutes later, Kerr graciously made her exit.

While there’s no doubt the West Australian would have loved to have scored in front of her home crowd, there was no sense of petulance – or outward disappointment.

“That actually says a lot about Sam Kerr,” Walsh said.

“The character of her. I do feel for her, she would have loved to have got a goal, it’s been a long time coming, this game in Perth.

“Her family are here, her entire extended family … but she is classy … you can look to every player on this pitch, they’re here for the greater good.”

Alex Chidiac (right) of the Matildas celebrates a goal. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough) Source: AAP

As Stajcic rotated his squad in the second half, the Matildas maintained their dominance – though they would only find the back of the net one more time.

Alanna Kennedy’s goal-bound header glanced off the shoulder of Crummer, who claimed her team’s fifth goal.

But if the celebratory scenes were great to watch, just as heartwarming was the sight of Aivi Luik, who has been in the Matildas wilderness for a number of years, largely through injuries, take to the field in the 76th minute.

“She’d be very emotional right now, various emotions going on for her , it’s so great to see her back,” Walsh said.

“She had chronic hammy injuries for a couple of years, we hadn’t seen her for a couple of years. No football, no professional football at that.

“So to see her back here at this level, pretty touching.”

A defensive midfielder, Luik won the ball just seconds after entering the play.

Then in the closing minutes, her desperation shone through as she tracked back past her defensive line to make a crucial interception, earning a free kick in the process.

With her side up 5-0, it summed up the determination and workrate of this side.

Thrilling in attack, but disciplined and working hard for each other in defence.

While Stajcic will still want plenty of improvement from his team, the crowd watching at nib Stadium couldn’t have been disappointed with the goals on offer – or the way the Matildas went about things.

Kerr said she’d relished the opportunity to take the Matildas’ talents to the “whole of Australia”, and that the team was embracing the opportunity to be competition favourites in Jordan.

“It’s amazing to bring the Matildas to Perth, to play in front of family and friends and the team to finally come out and play in front of the whole of Australia not just Sydney or Melbourne,” Kerr said.

“It’s a new thing being favourites, we’re going there to qualify for the World Cup and then win the Asian Cup and anything less and we’ll be disappointed.”

And, especially after this week, Kerr and her Matildas can be sure they’ll have the whole of Australia backing them in.

RE-LIVE THE GAME IN OUR BLOG BELOW

IF YOU CAN’T SEE THE BLOG BELOW, CLICK HERE