AFF Women’s Championship: Westfield Young Matildas defeat Malaysia 7-0

The Westfield Young Matildas have opened their 2018 AFF Women’s Championship campaign with a bang following a 7-0 defeat of Malaysia at Jakabaring Stadium Palembang, Indonesia.

Leah Blayney’s side were far too good for their opponents in their opening Group A fixture, dominating the encounter from the start and scoring inside the opening 20 seconds when Alexandra Chidiac won the ball back straight from kick off and charged toward goal.

 

Matildas

 

A strike from Mary Fowler to cap off a sweeping team move three minutes later followed by an Emily Condon goal saw Australia up 3-0 within 10 minutes before Malaysia finally settled and began to slow the game down in hot, humid conditions.

Chidiac added another shortly after the half time interval to put Australia 4-0 up, while Fowler also sealed a brace soon after, knocking in a rebound after Malaysia had failed to clear the ball in the box.

 

 

Chidiac sealed her hat-trick fifteen minutes from full time, before Amy Sayer capped off the win with a seventh - another fantastic team goal - in the final minutes of normal time.

“It’s always pleasing to start of the group matches with a win,” said Head Coach Leah Blayney.

“Some of the opportunities we had in and around the box, I don’t think we were as clinical as we can be and that’s an area we will be looking to improve on.”

 

 

The Westfield Young Matildas will now take on Timor-Leste in their second group match on Wednesday, with kick off at 7pm.

Malaysia 0

Young Matildas (Chidiac 1’ 51’ 74, Fowler 4’ 61’, Condon 6’, Sayer 87’)

Jakabaring Stadium Palembang, Indonesia

Westfield Young Matildas XI: 1. Jada Mathyssen, 4. Tori Tumeth, 6. Amy Sayer, 7. Princess Ibini-Isei
8. Emily Condon, 9. Cortnee Vine, 10. Alexandra Chidiac, 15. Taylor Ray, 16. Mary Fowler, 21. Courtney Nevin, 22. Larissa Crummer

Substitutes: 12. Annalee Grove, 18. Morgan Aquino, 2. Emily Hodgson, 3. Rasamee Phonsongkham, 5. Rachel Lowe, 11. Kaitlyn Torpey, 13. Angelique Hristodoulou, 14. Melindaj Barbieri, 17. Bethany Gordon, 19. Karly Roestbakken, 20. Kyra Cooney-Cross, 23. Holly Mcnamara

 

2018 AFF Women’s Championship – Westfield Young Matildas Fixtures (Group A)

Westfield Young Matildas v Timor-Leste
Date: Wednesday, 4 July 2018
Venue: Jakabaring Stadium Palembang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 7pm (local); 10pm (AEST)

Westfield Young Matildas v Cambodia
Date: Friday, 6 July 2018
Venue: Jakabaring Stadium Palembang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 4pm (local); 7pm (AEST)

Thailand v Westfield Young Matildas
Date: Sunday, 8 July 2018
Venue: Jakabaring Stadium Palembang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 7pm (local); 10pm (AEST)