Girls show potential in huge win
The Qantas Young Matildas have given another clear indication of their potential at the AFC U-19 Women’s Championships, after recording a 16-0 thrashing of host nation Malaysia. The victory ensured that Australia has qualified for the semi finals.
The Qantas Young Matildas are one step closer to securing a berth at the FIFA U-20 Women's Championships and possibly its first AFC title, after a 16-0 thrashing of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur last night.
The victory ensured that Australia has qualified for the semi finals of the AFC U-19 Women-s Championship and strong favorites to top Group B, after its final group match against Jordan on Thursday. The two finalists and the winner of the third/fourth play-off will qualify for the World Championships to be held in Russia later this year.
Both Jenna Tristram and Kylie Ledbrook scored four goals in the big win, while Victoria Balomenos grabbed herself a hat-trick to be the main contributors on the scoreboard.
After upsetting China 1-0 in the opening match that sent a shiver through the spine of all the competing nations, the Qantas Young Matildas showed what depth they have in the squad, by making easy work of the host nation.
Edwards, who played for many years in Malaysia, made nine changes to the starting line-up that beat China, to combat the effects of the very hot and humid conditions on the players.
But it was the two players that remained in the starting side, captain Collette McCallum and midfielder Leah Blayney that got Australia underway. In the 10th minute McCallum looped a shot from the left edge of the penalty area into the top corner, while Blayney made no mistake from the 18 yard circle to have Australia ahead 2-0 after 18 minutes.
Tristram opened her account in the 21st minute with a good low shot and McCallum doubled her tally with a well taken free kick in the 27th minute.
Servet Uzunlar made 5-0 in the 33rd minute with a header from close range and Tristram added another from close range in the 38th minute to make it 6-0 at the break.
With the game comfortable, McCallum and Blayney made way for Sally Shipard and Clare Polkinghorne at half time, but it made no difference to the scoring onslaught.
Uzunlar grabbed her second goal in the 47th minute, with a shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar and from then on it was a procession of goals.
Balomenos scored her first goal in the 50th minute with a good shot from a narrow angle, and then it was the turn of Ledbrook, on for Uzunlar in the 52nd minute to steal the show. Within four minutes of her coming on, Ledbrook had two goals to make it 10-0.
Ledbrook then set Balomenos up for her second, while Tristram took the score to 13-0 with two further goals. Ledbrook added another two, with Balomenos rounding off the scoring in the 87th minute with her third.
After the match, Edwards was obviously delighted with the result and especially as it shows there is depth in the squad.
“Some of the football played today was sheer class,” said Edwards. “Having made nine changes from the opening game against China the performance of the team was quite tremendous and all 20 players have now had a taste of the action and they have all done exceptionally well.”
"Playing in hot and humid conditions, it takes a lot out of the players, so we made a lot of changes. And I think the result against Malaysia shows we've got strength in depth.
“We were building on our victory against China so I'm very pleased with our performance. There is a great team spirit in the squad and we are looking forward to our next match."
“Having qualified for the semi final our next objective is to finish top of our group. The players- performances over the past two games have made my job of selecting the starting eleven for the next game a very difficult task,” Edwards concluded.
Match Details
Tuesday 11 April - 5.30pm kick-off Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Cheras Conditions: 35oC, high humidity, overcast, pitch good
Australia 16 (Collette McCallum 10-/27-, Leah Blayney 18-, Jenna Tristram 21-/38-/60-/67-, Servat Uzunlar 33-/47-, Victoria Balomenos 50-/57-/87-, Kylie Ledbrook 53-/57-/75-/82-) Malaysia 0
Australia line-up: Alison Logue (gk); Grace Gill, Caitlin Cooper, Nicole Somi, Collette McCallum (c) (Clare Polkinghorne h/t), Renee Cartwright, Leah Blayney (Sally Shipard h/t), Servet Uzunlar (Kylie Ledbrook 52-), Amy Jackson, Jenna Tristram, Victoria Balomenos Subs Not used: Lydia Williams (gk), Danielle Brogan, Kim Carroll, Olivia Kennedy, Sasha McDonnell, Leena Khamis
In the group's other result, China easily accounted for Jordan 9-0, another indication that Australia should finish on top of its group and set up a semi final showdown with either defending champions Korea Republic or DPR Korea, who face off tomorrow night.
Australia's will play Jordan on Thursday evening, the match kicking off at 9.45pm AEST.