Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Kathryn Gill netted a brace as defending champions Australia recorded a first win of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup following a 3-1 victory over a spirited Jordan side at Thong Nhat Stadium on Friday.
The 2010 AFC Women’s Player of the Year opened the scoring for the Matildas, who had been held to a 2-2 draw by Japan in Wednesday’s Group A opener, nine minutes before half-time to finally puncture a resilient defensive effort by Jordan who were also defeated 3-1 by hosts Vietnam in Wednesday’s other tie.
And just five minutes into the second-half, Gill netted her second before substitute Katrina Gorry made the points safe on 66 minutes, despite Jordan’s captain Stephanie Al Naber scoring a consolation for the tournament debutants four minutes later.
The opening phases of the game began with the defending champions on top but in disjointed fashion, as Alen Stajcic’s much-changed side, featuring no fewer than 10 new faces in the line-up, struggled to find their rhythm as the team from West Asia harried and hassled their more heralded counterparts.
Teresa Polias did, though, have the first clear effort of the game striking a shot narrowly over on the 10 minute mark after Al Naber had conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position.
That aside, few chances of note had been created by the halfway point of the first period, a result of Jordan’s spirited play and tenacious tackling as much as a lack of quality in the final ball from Australia.
But after an extended spell of pressure the opening came for Australia on 36 minutes as Gill latched onto Kim Carroll’s lofted ball into the penalty area and sent a firm header arcing over Zina Al Sadi and into the far corner of the net.
Clearly dissatisfied with his players’ efforts in the attacking third, Stajcic brought on Wednesday’s goal-scorer against Japan, Caitlin Foord, after the interval to add extra bite to the Matildas offence in the second-half.
But it was the two veterans of the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup-winning side who combined to double the lead just five minutes into the second-half as Samantha Kerr’s clipped cross from the byline was sent rocketing into the net by a bullet header from Gill.
Just three minutes later, Jordan went close to an immediate response as Shahnaz Jebreen and Luna Al Masri combined cleverly on the edge of the penalty area before the latter flighted an angled shot narrowly wide of Brianna Davey’s goal.
Shortly after the hour-mark, though, a third goal was scored, as second-half substitute Gorry drilled a low effort from the edge of the area across the diving Jordan custodian and into the right-hand corner.
But on 70 minutes Jordan pulled a goal back as Al Naber’s speculative shot from midway inside the Australia half was adjudged to have been carried over the line by the Matildas goalkeeper.
With five minutes of the match remaining Gill almost returned Kerr’s earlier favour, the former flicking a header through to her strike-partner but Kerr could not keep her composure and blazed over from close-range.