The CommBank Junior Matildas have kicked off their 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Round 2 Qualifying campaign with a 6-2 victory over the Philippines in Hanoi.
Australia kicked off their qualifying campaign for the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup with a 6-2 victory over the Philippines. Rae Dower gave international debuts to three players in her Starting XI, one being goalkeeper Layla Adams, while Madeline Caspers and Annabelle Yates made their first appearances.
The Philippines had an early lead as Nina Mathelus gave her side the advantage from the spot, and doubled her tally three minutes later to make it 2-0 to the Philippines.
Grace Kuilamu clawed a goal back on the half-hour mark before skipper Ruby Cuthbert found the equaliser to make it 2-2 heading into the break.
Australia came out of the break firing, with Shelby McMahon giving the Junior Matildas the lead for the first time in the game with her goal in the 46th minute. Lillian Skelly then made it 4-2.
Back Row (L to R): Indiana Dos Santos, Shelby McMahon, Ruby Cuthbert (C), Chloe Parker, Ischia Brooking and Lillian Skelly.
Front Row (L to R): Kiera Meyers, Grace Kuilamu, Layla Adams (GK), Annabelle Yates and Madeline Caspers.
Substitute Talia Younis made it 5-2 for Rae Dower’s side with 15 minutes left of regular time. Mikayla Duong, who came off the bench to start the second half, found Australia’s sixth of the night in Hanoi from the spot.
The side will now take on hosts Vietnam in their next game on Friday night (10 pm AEST), with both teams recording victories on matchday 1 and looking to finish in the top two of Group B to qualify for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Indonesia 2024™ to be held from 7 – 20 April 2024.
Vietnam v CommBank Junior Matildas
Date: Fri, 22 September 2023
Venue: Yanmar Field, Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, Hanoi
Kick Off: 7:00pm (Local), 10:00pm AEST
CommBank Junior Matildas v Bangladesh
Date: Sun, 24 September 2023
Venue: Yanmar Field, Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, Hanoi
Kick Off: 4:00pm (Local), 7:00pm AEST
Match Details
Australia U-17: 6 (Grace Kuilamu 30′ Ruby Cuthbert 42′ Shelby McMahon 46′ Lillian Skelly 55′ Talia Younis 75′ Mikayla Duong (P) 86′)
Philippines: 2 (Nina Mathelus 14′ (P) 17′)
Tournament: 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Round 2 Qualifiers – Group B
Date: Wednesday 20 September 2023
Venue: Yanmar Field, Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, Hanoi
Kick-off: 4:00pm (Local) / 7:00pm AEST
Referee: Mahsa Ghorbani (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Assistant Referees: Bahareh Seifinahavandi (Islamic Republic of Iran) & Fang Yan (China PR)
Fourth Official: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
Australia: 18. Layla Adams, 2. Kiera Meyers, 4. Ruby Cuthbert (c), 5. Madeline Caspers (19. Georgia Groidis 45′), 6. Ischia Brooking, 7. Shelby McMahon (15. Sian Dewey 77′), 9. Grace Kuilamu (11. Sienna Dale 71′), 10. Indiana Dos Santos (8. Talia Younis 39′), 14. Annabelle Yates, 20. Lillian Skelly, 23. Chloe Parker (17. Mikayla Duong 45′)
Substitutes not used: 1. Jessica Skinner (GK), 3. Amelia Tartaglia, 12. Georgia Ritchie (GK), 13. Isabela Hoyos, 16. Ava Carlson, 21. Tiana Fuller, 22. Emma Dundas
