Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Australia coach Alen Stajcic said his defending champions will have to counter the strong attacking line-up of Korea Republic should they wish to advance to a second consecutive AFC Women’s Asian Cup final when the two meet in their semi-final tie on Thursday at Thong Nhat Stadium.
The Matildas progressed to the final four after wins over hosts Vietnam and debutants Jordan followed a 2-2 tie in their opener with World Cup holders Japan that saw Stajcic’s side go into the knockout stages as Group A runners-up behind the East Asians.
Now, though, Australia will have to face the free-scoring Koreans who topped Group B, netting 16 goals in their three group stage games in the process, and boast the tournament’s top scorer in striker Park Eun-sun. However, Stajcic denied that his team would be targeting any one player in Yoon Duk-yeo’s side.
“We have to defend against their whole team. Their number 9 (Park Eun-sun) is very good, their number 7 (Jeon Ga-eul) is a good player, their number 13 (Kwon Hah-nul) is a good player, and I could go on through their whole team,” said coach Stajcic.
“But it’s a team game and that means worrying about the whole team, so we will have to respond to each of their threats, as I’m sure they will respond to each of ours.
“Yes, they’ve had some good results and scored some good goals in the group stages, but it’s really about who does it on the night and whoever can perform on Thursday will go on to win the game.”
Four years ago in China the Matildas, under Scottish coach Tom Sermanni, cemented their name in Australian sports folklore by becoming the first ever Australian side to win in Asia as they defeated DPR Korea on penalties in the final of the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
And of the players who started that final at Chengdu Sports Center,former AFC Women’s Player of the Year Kathryn Gill, Clare Polkinghorne, Elise Kellond-Knight, Kim Carroll and Samantha Kerr form part of Stajcic’s core in Ho Chi Minh while current stars Tameka Butt, Lydia Williams, Teigen Allen and Leena Khamis were substitutes four years ago.
“We have experienced players in our team who know what it’s like to win the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and also to play in FIFA World Cups and the experienced players will help the less experienced ones, we’ve a strong team unit ” added Stajcic.
“We’re delighted to be in the semi-finals but our objective is now to get to the final and defend the cup we won in 2010.”
Stajcic also confirmed that 2014 Julie Dolan Medal-winning midfielder Tameka Butt emerged from her first start of the tournament against Vietnam on Sunday unscathed, after coming back from an ankle injury that has ruled her out of action for five weeks, and will be a contender for the starting line-up.