Next generation of Matildas beaten by New Zealand

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Australia's youngest women football team, the Under 17 women's team, have been defeated in a two match series against New Zealand in Canberra.

The youthful squad, with players at least two years junior to their Kiwi counterparts, were defeated 4-0 in each match played today and Tuesday.

The Australian team comprised younger players as part of a development program for players focussing on the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup campaign.

New Zealand meanwhile fielded a side which will largely make up the squad that will compete on home soil in this year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

Meanwhile, the Australian women's Under 20 squad, known as the Young Matildas, arrived in Canberra today and will face both the Australian u-17 and the New Zealand u-17 in two training matches on Friday and Sunday.

The two Aussie squads, coached by Alen Stajcic (u-20) and Gary Phillips (u-17), are in the early stages of preparation for their respective 2010 world youth cup campaigns with Asian qualification matches due to start later this year.

YOUNG MATILDAS SQUAD 17-20 April, AIS Teresa Polias, Britt Simmons, Carly Ikonomou, Jess Seaman, Kyah Simon, Sam Spackman, Jenna Kingsley, Linda O'Neill, Elizabeth O'Reilly, Loren Mahoney, Nicola Bolger, Karina Roweth, Hayley Abbot, Ashley Sykes, Nicole Sykes (all NSW), Monnique Kofoed, Elise Kellond-Knight, Tameka Butt, Sophie Hogben, Casey Dumont, Vedrana Popovic, Ruth Blackburn (all Qld), Ella Mastrantonio, Marianna Tabain, Danielle Calautti, Elle Simmons, Shannon May, Samantha Kerr (all WA), Sian McLaren, Angela Fimmon (both SA), Emily Van Egmond (Northern NSW).

UNDER 17 WOMEN'S TEAM 14-18 April, AIS Erika Elze, Michaela Hatzirodos, Amy Higgins, Courtney Holmwood, Rebekah Stott, Brittany Whitfield, Sally Thurston (all Qld), Nicole Calder, Ruth Wallace, Ashlee Faul, Lilly Rydon (all SA), Emily van Egmond, Tara Andrews, Georgia Petersen, Sarah Grist, Madeline Searl (all Northern NSW), Nicola Bolger, Teigan Allen, Hannah Brewer, Sharni Brown, Caitlin Foord, Candace Sciberras (all NSW), Jaymee Gibbons, Sadie Lawrence, Samantha Kerr (all WA), Adelyn Ayton (Tasmania), Brianna Davey (Victoria).