Matildas through to Asian Cup final

[M@rvin]

Australia's national women's team will have the chance to defend its AFC Women's Asian Cup title after a dominant 2-1 semi-final win over Korea Republic at Ho Chi Minh’s Thong Nhat Stadium.



Making her 46th international appearance for her country, it was Elise Kellond-Knight's first ever Matildas goal that proved the winner after Korea Republic striker Park Eun Sun's penalty had earlier cancelled out Katrina Gorry's screamer that initially opened the scoring two minutes into the second-half.

Australia’s fourth victory from four AFC Women’s Asian Cup matches against Korea Republic means it will meet Japan in the final on Sunday night after the world champion accounted for China 2-1 in the final minute of extra-time in the other semi-final.

Matildas interim coach Alen Stajcic was elated with all of his players and the approach they took into the contest to take the game up to their opponents, who had previously not conceded a goal in the tournament.

“We’ve got so many good attacking players and we saw that tonight. We created nine or ten really good chances, we only scored two but I thought we dominated the majority of the game, I thought we dominated the chances and I think we thoroughly deserved the win,” Stajcic said.

“We put them (Korea Republic) under so much pressure in midfield that we just didn’t let them play, and that’s how we’re going to play ... if teams are going to beat us they’re going to have to beat us with good skill and they’re going to have to be able to play under pressure.

“I’m extremely proud of the group. They worked so hard, they were disciplined, they attacked well, they were positive the whole game, even after the penalty they just got on with it and didn’t sit back and wait at 1-1, we wanted to go out and win the game and I said that would be our philosophy, we’re going to go out and try to win games rather than sit back and try not to lose.”
..

[Con M]

Brave effort by the Matildas in the Final, unfortunately going down 0-1. They're still not given the recognition they deserve by mainstream media.

Congrats to those Matildas making next year's Women's World Cup.

[M@rvin]

Matildas pay price for profligacy in front of goal to lose Asian Cup final to Japan 1-0
Val Migliaccio
AUSTRALIA relinquished the Asian Cup to Japan in a 1-0 loss but the Matildas didn’t die wondering at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.

Iwashimizu Azusa’s 28th minute goal was the first time in five matches Australia conceded the first goal at the tournament as Japan became the first nation to hold the FIFA World Cup and the Asian Cup.
Australia’s performance was heroic against a side which is regarded as the best on the planet.

But after Australia knocked Japan out of the 2010 Asian Cup semi-final in a 1-0 win with a goal from Kate Gill. the FIFA world champions exacted revenge with precision in an extraordinary first half where the Matildas paid the price for poor finishing in front of goal.
It took Japan 20 minutes to find its rhythm after Australia created three opportunities to sting the favourites out of its slumber.

Sam Kerr missed the Matildas first chance over the bar from seven metres when the game was less than 20 seconds old after Lisa De Vanna and Katrina Gorry combined to find the lively winger.
Nine minutes later Japan defender Kawamiura Yuri’s wayward back pass presented Kerr with another chance but there was no room to pull the trigger with a shot on goal.
De Vanna then created a chance for Michelle Heyman with a neat cross in the 12th minute but the big striker’s header was saved by Japan goalkeeper Fukomoto Miho.
That move spurned Japan into tactical action as the disciplined outfit used a high press which effectively made Elise Kellond-Knight retreat deeper than her usual holding role and forced Australia to use long balls.

Miyama Awa dominated the midfield with the ploy as the Japanese superior technique and movement had Australia on the backfoot.Takase Megumi fired Japan’s first warning with an audacious overhead kick which was saved by Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams before Miyama stung a 30m cannon which was deflected for a corner in the 22nd minute.

Japan’s pressure was taking its toll on Australia and when the world champion forced a corner in the 28th minute the Matildas paid the ultimate price.Japan played a short corner from Miyama to Utsugi Rumi before her far post cross found the head of Iwashimizu.Despite the efforts of Williams the ball cannoned off the cross bar before bouncing over the line.

But Australia still had a chance to level the the match a minute before the break when De Vanna found Heyman who was thwarted by the brave keeping of Fukumoto.
Australia coach Alen Stajcic made a half-time switch when he introduced Laura Alleway for stopper Alanna Kennedy in a bid to nullify Japan’s high press.
Heyman fired the Matildas first shot on target in the second half but Fukumoto clutched the stinging 18m shot safely in the 49th minute.

Heyman had a another chance to equalise in the 53rd minute but her shot from lacked any power to test Fukomoto.Emily van Egmond then laid a stunning pass towards Heyman, but with the goal beckoning, the ball eluded the striker.With Gorry and De Vanna penetrating Japan’s midfield with creative movement, Heyman was again presented with a chance to hit the target, albeit acrobatically, but her overhead kick sailed wide.It was Heyman’s last effort on target before Caitlin Foord, who scored a cracking goal against Japan in the opening Group A 2-2 draw 11 days ago, replaced the striker in the 67th minute.

Just seconds later, Japan substitute Yuka Sugasawa drove a shot against the crossbar before Kerr had the ball in the back of the net only to be denied by an offside call.De Vanna had Fukomoto scrambling when her pace caused all sorts of trouble for the Japanese defence before the ball was prodded out for a corner in the 69th minute.Australia was pushing hard to find an equaliser with Teigen Allen having two shots ricocheted back to the fullback within seconds after De Vanna pumped in a cross to jangle Japan’s nerves.