Australia fought back from a goal down to defeat Japan 3 – 1 in the final game of the group stage in the AFC U16 Women’s Championships in Thailand.
Australia fought back from a goal down to defeat Japan 3 - 1 in the final game of the group stage in the AFC U16 Women-s Championships in Thailand.
Australia finished top of Group B and set up a semi-final clash with defending champions DPR Korea, who finished runners-up in Group A.
Japan took an early lead in the 7th minute when a Haruka Hamada cross found Kanna Oda unmarked at the back post for her shot to rebound off the goal post and onto Australian goalkeeper Brianna Davey who could do nothing but watch it fall into the back of the net.
Australia managed to equalise in the 13th minute after a Teigen Allen corner was fumbled by the Japanese goalkeeper Mayu Yoshida for Brittany Whitfield to pounce on the mistake and slot the ball into the empty goal.
Both teams looked to push forward and gain the upper hand, however it was Australia-s Teigen Allen who managed to break the deadlock in the 28th minute after receiving the ball just outside the 18-yard-box. After beating her defender Allen unleashed with a shot that the Japanese goalkeeper could do nothing to stop.
Australia then extended their advantage in first-half stoppage time when Caitlin Foord beat the offside trap courtesy of a through ball from Emily Van Egmond to finish precisely and round out the scoring.
The second half went by without much incident as Australia held onto their two goal advantage to finish the group stage with 14 goals for and only 1 against.
"We already knew we were through to the semi-finals but for the girls to fight back from one goal down so early in the match is testament to how much the players want to win and how unified they are as a group," said Westfield Australia U16 Women-s Head Coach Robbie Hooker.
"We'll look to continue working on the technical side of our game but tactically we are playing very well and the players are now focused on the semi-final against DPR Korea."
Australia-s next game is against DPR Korea on Thursday 12 November at 7.00pm local (11.00pm AEDT) at the Supachalasai National Stadium. Japan will face Group A winners Korea Republic.
Australia 3 (Brittany WHITFIELD 13-, Teigen ALLEN 28-, Caitlin FOORD 45-+1) Japan 1 (Kanna ODA 7-)
AFC U16 Women-s Championships 9 November 2009 Local kick-off: 4:00pm (8.00pm AEDT) Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok
Westfield Australia U16 Women-s line-up: Brianna DAVEY (GK), Hannah BREWER (Rebekah STOTT 10th), Erika ELZE ©, Samantha KERR, Alanna KENNEDY, Stephanie CATLEY, Emily VAN EGMOND, Brittany WHITFIELD (Sharni BROWN 90+), Teigen ALLEN (Caitlin FRIEND 85th), Caitlin FOORD, Ashlee FAUL
Substitutes not used: Alexandra HUYNH, Tara ANDREWS, Heidi MAKRILLOS, Ruth WALLACE, Amy HIGGINS (GK), Michaela HATZIRODOS, Candace SCIBERRAS, Madeline SEARL, Elizabeth DURACK (GK)
Group B - Table Team Goals For Goals against Points Australia 14 1 9 Japan 20 4 6 China 8 7 3 Chinese Taipei 0 30 0
Group A - Table Team Goals For Goals Against Points Korea Republic 18 2 7 DPR Korea 14 2 7 Thailand 4 15 3 Myanmar 2 19 0
Semi Final Matches - 12th November 2009 4.00pm Korea Republic v Japan 7.00pm Australia v DPR Korea