Youngsters to get chance in opening game
Australian coach Tom Sermanni has selected a number of young players for the Matildas opening match against Chinese Taipei at the AFC Women's Asian Cup to be played this eveing in Ho Chi Minh City.
Teenage duo Ellyse Perry and Kyah Simon are joined by former Young Matildas Kim Carroll and Lydia Williams for the tournament opener against the world number 30.
Central defender Kate McShea will captain the team in the absence of regular skipper Cheryl Salisbury who is being rested for the match.
"This match is a critcial game as all tournament opening matches are, but in this particular tournament you not only have to go game-to-game but you also have to try and plan ahead," Sermanni said.
"If things go to plan, the really critical game in the group will be against South Korea on Saturday."
A number of youngsters have featured prominently in the recent matches against the USA and Canada following injuries to senior players, and Sermanni says the players have made a smooth transistion.
Tameka Butt, Simon, Perry, Williams, Amy Chapman, Jenna Tristram and Clare Polkinghorne whose ages range from 16 to 21 all played in last Friday's impressive 2-1 win over Canada and played a major role in the win, including Chapman scoring Australia-s opening goal and Perry setting up the second goal.
“One of the good things we-ve had about the team and the development system is that we all work really, really well together. The states, state coaches and the national team structure of the 17-s, 20-s and Matildas; because we-ve had that continuity for three years, when these younger players are coming into the team now.
“They are coming into an environment that is conducive to them performing; it-s not intimidating, the senior players don-t feel threatened by them; the system in place encourages them to come in and settle in quickly and perform and they have largely done that.”
Australia takes on Chinese Taipei at 8.00pm tonight (AEST time). They will then meet Korea Republic on Saturday at 10.30pm (AEST), with the final group game against Japan on Monday also at 8pm (AEST).
In the Group A matches played last night, Asia's highest ranked team scored a DPR (North) Korea scored a comprehensive 5-0 win over Thainalnd, while China edged host nation Vietnam 1-0.
Australian line-up v Chinese Taipei: Lydia Williams (gk); Ellyse Perry, Kim Carroll, Kate McShea, Karla Reuter, Lauren Colthorpe, Amber Neilson, Heather Garriock, Kyah Simon, Jenna Tristram, Caitlin Munoz.
TELEVISION - SBS TV Highlights 5-6pm Friday 30 May, Details on further match coverage to follow or see SBS website