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Australia kick off #AFCU230W Round 1 Qualifiers with in over Guam

The CommBank Young Matildas kicked off their 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Round 1 Qualifiers with a 13-0 win over Guam. 

Australia enjoyed possession early into the game and found the opener just five minutes into the encounter. Emilia Murray capitalised off a poor pass from Guam’s goalkeeper and gave the Young Matildas an early lead in their opening game. 

Murray had the chance to double her advantage minutes later, with Daniela Galic finding the unmarked winger, who forced the keeper into a diving save. 

Shay Hollman added her name to the scoresheet to double Australia’s lead, Galic played a back pass into the path of Hollman who sent her shot into the top corner. 

Kahli Johnson found the third just before the half-hour mark, dispatching her attempt into the bottom corner. 

Quick-fire goals to Hollman and Murray and an own goal to defender Samantha Kenney just before the break saw Australia take a 6-0 lead going into the interval. 

Head coach Leah Blayney made four changes to start the second half, with Claudia Cicco, Alana Murphy, Jynaya Dos Santos and Grace Wilson all coming off the bench.

Dos Santos and Cicco made an immediate impact by adding their names to the scoresheet, with Cicco netting a quick brace off the bench. 

Sasha Grove entered the game for Sienna Saveska, and had a similar impact to her fellow substitutes, finding Australia’s 10th of the night.  

Galic scored her first of the game, getting on the end of a perfectly placed through-ball from Maya Lobo. 

Australia’s defence was tested for the first time of the night, with a long-range shot from Guam’s Myah Polzin forcing Grace Wilson into a diving save over the crossbar. 

Alana Murphy scored Australia’s 12th goal of the night, tapping in from close range. Claudia Cicco completed her hat trick in second-half stoppage time to see the game out 13-0. 

Australia will face hosts Kyrgyz Republic on Saturday morning (1:00 am AEDT) with the group winner progressing to Round 2 of qualifying in June 2023.

Watch the full match replay now.

Match Details  

Guam U-20: 0
Australia U-20: 13 (Murray 5′ 40′, Hollman 17′ 37′, Johnson 28′, Kenney (O.G.) 45′, Cicco 63′ 70′ 93′, Dos Santos 65′, Grove 74′, Galic 79′, Murphy 85′) 

Tournament: 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Round 1 Qualifiers – Group C
Date: Monday 6, March (Local) & Tuesday 7, March (AEDT)
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek
Kick-off: 8:00 pm (Local) & 1:00 am (AEDT)

Referee: Park Sejin (Korea Republic)
Assistant Referees: Yang Sun Young (Korea Republic) & Bao Mengxiao (China PR)
Fourth Official: Sunita Thongthawin (Thailand)

Australia U-20 XI: 1. Chloe Lincoln (GK) (18. Wilson 45′), 3. Maya Lobo, 4. Gemma Ferris, 5. Jessika Nash (C), 6. Shay Hollman (8. Murphy 45′), 7. Sienna Saveska (23. Grove 66′), 10. Daniela Galic, 11. Kahli Johnson (16. Cicco 45′), 14. Zara Kruger, 15. Alexia Apostolakis, 22. Emilia Murray (9. Dos Santos 45′)

Substitutes not used: 2. Tegan Bertolissio, 12. Tahlia Franco (GK), 13. Anika Stajcic, 17. Ella O’Grady, 19. Ava Briedis, 20. Tijan McKenna, 21. Milly Boughton

Yellow Card: Nil

Red Card: Nil