Qantas Young Matildas Finish On Top Of Group

The Qantas Young Matildas have finished on top of Group B at the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship after a comfortable 7-0 win over Jordan tonight.

The Qantas Young Matildas have finished on top of Group B at the AFC U-19 Women-s Championship after a comfortable 7-0 win over Jordan tonight.

After a delayed start to the game due to lightning near the ground, it didn-t take long the girls to gain ascendancy when it started with Caitlin Cooper (pictured right) scoring two goals inside the first 20 minutes.

Amy Jackson and Kylie Ledbrook added a further two goals to make 4-0 at the break. Sasha McDonnell, Renee Cartwright and an own goal made it 7-0 at full time.

They will now play DPR Korea in the semi finals on Saturday at 9.45pm AEST, with the winner earning a berth at the FIFA U-20 Women-s World Championship in Russia later this year.

After dominating possession early, Australia finally broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, when the Jordan defence failed to clear a cross from Olivia Kennedy, the ball falling invitingly for Cooper who drove her shot from the edge of the area.

Kylie Ledbrook thought she had scored Australia-s second goal in the 15th minute when her corner kick sailed inside the far post, but the goal was ruled out by the referee.

Two minutes later though it was 2-0 when another corner, saw a scramble ensue and Cooper was on hand to stab home.

Amy Jackson made it three in the 32nd minute when she headed home a Leah Blayney cross and four minutes later Ledbrook struck home a free kick from outside the box for a 4-0 half time lead.

Half time substitute Sasha McDonnell made it 5-0 when she crashed home a shot from the corner of the six-yard box.

Renee Cartwright added a sixth goal in the 61st minute, when she ran on to the ball for a simple tap in after a neat dummy by McDonnell.

The scoring was wrapped up by an own goal in the 72nd minute, although the Jordanian keeper did well to keep at least more Australian goal bound efforts late in the game.

Alistair Edwards praised the girls efforts, especially as complacency could have set in, with the team already qualified for the semi finals.

"Having already qualified for the semi final it was again encouraging to see the players put in another solid, high tempo performance to top the group against a defensive-minded Jordan,” said a delighted Edwards.   "We have a fully fit squad to choose from against DPR Korea and having used the whole squad during the group games everyone is looking fresh and focused for the big game on Saturday."

Match Details

Thursday 13 April - 7.45pm kick-off MPPJ Stadium, Petaling Jaya  Conditions: 30oC, rain at start then humid, pitch damp, slippery

Australia 7 (Caitlin Cooper 11-/17-, Amy Jackson 32-, Kylie Ledbrook 36-, Sasha McDonnell 54-, Renee Cartwright 61-, own goal 72-) Jordan 0   Australia line-up: Alison Logue (gk); Olivia Kennedy (Servet Uzunlar h/t), Kylie Ledbrook (c) (Sally Shipard 43-), Caitlin Cooper, Victoria Balomenos, Amy Jackson, Grace Gill, Renee Cartwright, Leena Khamis (Sasha McDonnell h/t), Nicole Somi, Leah Blayney Subs Not used: Lydia Williams (gk); Clare Polkinghorne, Danielle Brogan, Kim Carroll, Collette McCallum Not available: Jenna Tristram (injury)   Cautions: Ledbrook 40-