U17 Women's team go down to Korea

The Australian Under 17 Women’s team has lost its opening match of the AFC U16 Women’s Championship against Korea Republic in Kuala Lumpur. After it was all square at the break, Korea proved too strong in the second half to eventually run out 3-1 winners.

The Australian Under 17 Women-s team has lost its opening match of the AFC U16 Women-s Championship against Korea Republic in Kuala Lumpur. After it was all square at the break, Korea proved too strong in the second half to eventually run out 3-1 winners.

Kyah Simon headed Australia-s only goal after 60 minutes, but Korea was already up 3-0 at the time and the comeback proved too difficult hard in the hot and humid conditions and against a well-organised Korean side.

The result means Australia must now beat China in its second and final group game, by a big margin, with the two top advancing to the semi finals. The top three teams advancing to the FIFA U-17 Women-s World Cup, being held in New Zealand in 2008.

The first half proved an even affair, with both sides having good chances top open the scoring, with the two keepers, making several smart saves.

Australia-s best opportunities fell to Jenna Kingsley, who was denied a goal by a diving save from the Korean keeper, while on the stroke of half time, an indirect free kick inside the penalty area, was blasted over the bar by Simon.

The match turned in favour of the Koreans shortly after the break, when they scored two quick goals, one from a breakaway and the second from a corner kick.

Before they knew it, Australia was three down, as the well-drilled Koreans continued their momentum, although Simon reduced that deficit with half an hour to go with a brilliant header from Sophie Hogben-s corner kick.

From that moment, the Koreans sat back and let Australia do the pressing, but apart from a few long range shots, they never really threatened the Korean goal.

A win against China on Monday evening, whom they beat at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in January, will still give Australia a chance of qualifying for the semi-s, although they must do so by at least three goals. A win by two goals will see all three teams finish on the same points and goal difference. China defeated Korea in the opening match also by a scoreline of 3-1.

Australian coach Mike Mulvey was proud of his girls despite the loss. “My players did very well, it was just a few pieces of naïve defending that caused our loss,” he said. “Korea are a very strong team, we saw them in January and knew they would be tough.

“We had a few chances to score and maybe if we had the rub of the green things would be a bit different. But the girls put in their best and I-m happy to have this team play for me and Australia.”

Match Details

Australia 1 (Kyah Simon 61') Korea Republic 3

Australian line-up: Casey Dumont (gk); Alisha Foote, Vedrana Popovic, Jenna Kingsley, Melissa Redmond, Sophie Hogben, Kyah Simon, Emily Van-Egmond (Rhali Dobson 58'), Sam Spackman (Stephanie Haim 57'), Kirstyn Pearce (Tameka Butt 78'), Sam Wood Subs not used:Danielle Calautti, Alesha Clifford, Elizabeth Sharpe, Li Jennifer Bisset, Marianna Tabain, Sian McLaren (gk), Taleah Kay Doyle

Cautions: Hogben (94')