The six Sydney FC stars who are currently in Uzbekistan with the Young Matildas have gotten their AFC U20s Women’s Asian Cup off to the perfect start with a win over Korea Republic.
It was a come from behind victory for the Young Matildas in some crazy conditions as the snow lay heavy on the pitch and continued to fall from the sky.
Three of Ante Juric’s stars began the game with Indiana Dos Santos, Zara Kruger and Maddie Caspers all lining up in the cold in Tashkent and it was a tough game especially for Caspers, starting her first Young Matildas match, where the ball was constantly getting held up in the thick snow.
The Australians fell behind in the first half and looked to build into the second stanza where two goals from Liberty A-League stars saw them turn the contest around.
Zara Kruger was influential in the midfield along with Indiana Dos Santos who was on the left wing. There was a slight concern for Dos Santos who was substituted off after she went down under challenge and was left clutching her ankle so Sky Blues fans will be sweating on her fitness leading into the back-end of the season.
Second half goals to Peta Trimis and Naomi Chinima were enough for them to see off the South Koreans as they look to finish in the top two and qualify for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
Shay Hollman came on at the dying stages of the match while Jynaya Dos Santos and Tahlia Franco were unused substitutes.
The Young Matildas will now take on Uzbekistan on Wednesday night, kicking off at 10pm AEDT with the match broadcast live on 10Play.
Australia U-20 XI: 1. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 5. Jessika Nash (C), 7. Milly Boughton (16. Cicco 45′), 10. Daniela Galic (8. Murphy 75′), 13. Peta Trimis (6. Shay Hollman 90+5′), 14. Zara Kruger, 15. Alexia Apostolakis, 17. Madeleine Caspers (19. Gooch 45′), 20. Indiana Dos Santos (11. Johnson 80′), 21. Naomi Chinnama, 23. Sasha Grove
Substitutes not used: 2. Tijan McKenna, 3. Tegan Bertolissio, 4. Gemma Ferris, 9. Jynaya Dos Santos, 12. Tahlia Franco (GK), 18. Grace Wilson (GK), 22. Georgia Cassidy
*Feature Image: Football Australia
